Crossing out sentences in Word is a straightforward task. All you need to do is select the text you want to cross out, go to the “Home” tab on the toolbar, and click on the “Strikethrough” button, which looks like the letter “abc” with a line through it. And there you have it, the text is now crossed out!
After completing this action, the selected text in your document will have a line through it, indicating that it has been crossed out. This can be useful for showing edits, indicating completed tasks, or just for stylistic purposes.
Introduction
When working with documents, there are times when you need to mark something as incorrect or completed without actually removing the text. That’s where the strikethrough feature comes in handy. Strikethrough is a typographical presentation of words with a horizontal line through their center, implying that the text is incorrect, obsolete, or no longer relevant. It is a common feature in editing and revising written content, both in print and digital formats.
Crossing out sentences in Microsoft Word can be useful for various users, including students, professionals, and writers. For students, it can help indicate items that have been reviewed or sections that need to be revised. Professionals might use it to illustrate changes in a contract or document, while writers can use it during the editing process to mark sections that require reworking. Knowing how to effectively cross out sentences in Word is a simple yet essential skill for anyone who uses the program regularly. Let’s dive into the step-by-step tutorial.
Step by Step Tutorial to Cross Out Sentences in Word
Before we get into the steps, it’s essential to understand that the following instructions will help you apply the strikethrough formatting to your text in Microsoft Word, making it appear crossed out.
Step 1: Highlight the Sentence
Click and drag your cursor over the sentence you want to cross out to highlight it.
Highlighting the sentence lets Word know which text you want to apply the strikethrough formatting to. Make sure you select only the sentence or words you wish to cross out to avoid applying the format to unwanted text.
Step 2: Click on the ‘Home’ Tab
Navigate to the ‘Home’ tab on the Word ribbon to access the strikethrough function.
The ‘Home’ tab contains the most commonly used Word functions, including font formatting options like bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough. It’s usually the first tab on the left in the Word ribbon.
Step 3: Click on the ‘Strikethrough’ Button
Locate and click the ‘Strikethrough’ button in the ‘Font’ group of the ‘Home’ tab.
The ‘Strikethrough’ button looks like the letters “abc” with a line through them. Once you click this button, your selected text will immediately be crossed out.
Pros
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Clear indication of changes | Strikethrough in Word provides a clear visual cue that something in the document has been changed or is no longer valid. This is especially helpful in collaborative editing or reviewing. |
| Easy to use | The function is simple to use and doesn’t require any complex steps or knowledge of Word. It’s accessible directly from the toolbar. |
| Reversible | If you change your mind, the strikethrough formatting can easily be undone by clicking the Strikethrough button again or using the undo function. |
Cons
| Drawback | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Can clutter the document | Overuse of strikethrough can make a document hard to read and follow, especially if there are many edits. |
| Not suitable for final documents | Strikethrough should be removed in the final version of a document as it can appear unprofessional. |
| Limited formatting options | Compared to other editing tools, strikethrough is relatively basic. It doesn’t allow for color customization or other enhancements. |
Additional Information
While the above steps will help you cross out sentences in Word, there are a few more things to keep in mind. For instance, you can use keyboard shortcuts to speed up the process. On Windows, you can select your text and press Alt + H + 4 to apply the strikethrough formatting quickly. On a Mac, the shortcut is Command + Shift + X.
Strikethrough can also be applied to parts of words, single letters, or even spaces. This is useful when you want to show more subtle edits or corrections. Another tip is to combine strikethrough with other formatting features like bold or color to make the crossed-out text stand out even more.
Remember, the strikethrough feature is a form of formatting. That means it will be preserved when you copy and paste text within Word or into other word processing programs that support text formatting.
Summary
- Highlight the sentence you want to cross out.
- Click on the ‘Home’ tab.
- Click on the ‘Strikethrough’ button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a keyboard shortcut to apply strikethrough?
Yes, on Windows, you can use Alt + H + 4, and on Mac, it’s Command + Shift + X.
Is strikethrough formatting preserved when copying text?
Yes, as long as the program you’re pasting into supports text formatting.
Can I customize the color of the strikethrough line?
No, Word does not allow for customization of the strikethrough line’s color.
Can I cross out only part of a word?
Yes, you can apply strikethrough formatting to any part of your text, including individual letters.
How do I remove strikethrough formatting?
You can remove strikethrough formatting by selecting the text and clicking the ‘Strikethrough’ button again, or by using the ‘Clear Formatting’ button.
Conclusion
Crossing out sentences in Word is a breeze once you know where to find the strikethrough feature and how to use it. Whether you’re editing a document, marking tasks as completed, or just playing around with formatting, strikethrough is an effective way to communicate changes.
Remember, like any formatting tool, it should be used sparingly to maintain a clear and professional-looking document. So go ahead, give it a try, and strike through those sentences like a pro!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.