How To Strikethrough Text on Google Docs

The strikethrough function in Google Docs can be a valuable tool when writing business documents. You can use it to retain text you aren’t ready to delete, cross off completed list items or milestones, show a correction, or indicate a change in the writing process.

How to strikethrough on Google Docs on a web browser

There are two easy ways to apply strikethrough formatting in Google Docs when working within your computer’s web browser: through the Format menu or a keyboard shortcut.

Quick steps to strikethrough text via the Format menu

1. Open Google Docs by navigating to docs.google.com in your browser.

2. Start a new document or open a recent document you wish to edit.

3. Select the text you want to strikethrough. Click and drag your cursor from the beginning of where you want to strikethrough to the end of your selection.

4. With the text still highlighted, navigate to the toolbar at the top of the page. Click the Format menu and select Text.

5. In the sub-menu that appears, click Strikethrough, indicated with ~S~.

6. The selected text will now have the strikethrough effect.

Quick steps to strikethrough text via keyboard shortcut

1. Open Google Docs in your browser.

2. Open a new document and add some text or an existing document.

3. Select the text you want to strikethrough. Click and drag from the beginning of where you want to strikethrough to the end of your selection.

4. On Windows, hold down the following keys: Alt + Shift + 5. For Mac, hold down Command + Shift + X to strikethrough your selected text.

5. Release the keys to apply a strikethrough on the selected text.

How to strikethrough in Google Docs app (Android and iOS)

The steps to apply strikethrough on the Google Docs app are the same for Android and iOS devices. 

Quick steps to strikethrough text on a mobile device (Android or iOS)

1. Open the Google Docs app.

2. Create a new document or select the one you want to edit.

3. Select the text you want to strike through.

4. Tap the pencil icon in the bottom-right corner to expand your text options.

5. The screen now displays a keyboard and additional text options. At the top of the screen, locate and tap on the Format icon, indicated by the letter ‘A’.

6. Some options will appear in the bottom half of the screen. Tap the ~S~ to strikethrough your selected text.

7. Your text now has the strikethrough effect.

Quick steps to strikethrough text on a tablet or iPad

1. Open the Google Docs app.

2. Create a new document or select the one you want to edit.

3. Select the text you want to strike through.

4. Highlighting the text will bring up a new menu. With “Text” selected, tap on the “~S~” icon.

Additional tips to work with Google Docs strikethrough text

Here are a few additional things to keep in mind when you’re working with strikethrough text in Google Docs.

• Struck-out text still counts toward the final word count of your document.

• Strikethrough formatting will carry over if you convert a file into another rich-text format but not into .txt file formats, which use plain text.

• Strikethrough formatting will also carry over when you copy and paste between other rich-text programs and platforms such as Microsoft Word or LibreOffice, but not into platforms that use plain text (e.g., Windows Notepad).