Have you ever wanted to put a line through text in Excel to indicate that it is no longer relevant or to highlight a correction? This feature, known as strikethrough, is a simple yet effective way to visually mark up your spreadsheet. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to achieve this and explore some use cases where strikethrough can be beneficial.

Applying Strikethrough in Excel

Adding a strikethrough to your text in Excel is straightforward and can be done in a few simple steps:

1. Select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply the strikethrough to.

2. Right-click on the selected cells and choose "Format Cells" from the context menu.

3. In the Format Cells dialog box, navigate to the Font tab.

4. Check the box next to Strikethrough under the Effects section.

5. Click OK to apply the strikethrough to the selected cells.

Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts to quickly apply strikethrough:

• For Windows users: Press Ctrl + 5 to toggle strikethrough.

• For Mac users: Press Command + Shift + X to apply or remove strikethrough.

Use Cases for Strikethrough

Strikethrough can be a useful tool in various scenarios within Excel. Here are a few examples:

Indicating Corrections or Updates

When making changes to your spreadsheet, you can use strikethrough to indicate the previous value and the new value. This helps to maintain a clear audit trail and ensures that any corrections or updates are easily identifiable.

Depreciating Old Data

In financial or inventory management spreadsheets, you may have data that becomes outdated or irrelevant over time. Strikethrough can be used to visually depreciate this data, making it clear that it is no longer active or accurate.

Highlighting Errors or Inaccuracies

If you identify errors or inaccuracies in your spreadsheet, applying strikethrough can draw attention to these issues. This is especially useful when collaborating with others and ensures that any discrepancies are quickly addressed.

Marking Completed Tasks

In project management or to-do lists, strikethrough can be a simple way to mark tasks as completed. It provides a visual indication of progress and can be especially useful when combined with conditional formatting to automatically strikethrough completed tasks.

Customizing Strikethrough

While the default strikethrough style is a single line through the text, Excel allows you to customize this effect to suit your needs. Here's how you can adjust the strikethrough settings:

1. Follow the steps above to open the Format Cells dialog box.

2. In the Font tab, click on the drop-down arrow next to the Strikethrough option.

3. Choose from the available strikethrough styles, including Single, Double, Single Accounting, and Double Accounting.

4. You can also adjust the color of the strikethrough by clicking on the Color drop-down menu and selecting a different color.

Customizing the strikethrough style and color can help you create a more visually appealing and informative spreadsheet.

Conclusion

Strikethrough is a simple yet powerful tool in Excel that allows you to visually mark up your data. Whether you're indicating corrections, depreciating old data, or highlighting errors, strikethrough can enhance the clarity and usability of your spreadsheets. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily apply and customize strikethrough to suit your specific needs.

Can I remove strikethrough from multiple cells at once?

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Yes, you can remove strikethrough from multiple cells simultaneously. Simply select the cells with strikethrough, right-click, and choose “Format Cells.” In the Format Cells dialog box, uncheck the “Strikethrough” option, and click “OK” to remove the strikethrough from the selected cells.

Is there a way to automatically apply strikethrough to cells based on a condition?

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Yes, you can use conditional formatting to automatically apply strikethrough to cells that meet certain criteria. Select the range of cells you want to format, go to the “Home” tab, click on “Conditional Formatting,” and choose “New Rule.” From there, you can set the condition for applying strikethrough, such as a specific text or a formula.

Can I apply strikethrough to text in a merged cell?

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Yes, you can apply strikethrough to text in a merged cell. Select the merged cell, right-click, and choose “Format Cells.” In the Format Cells dialog box, check the “Strikethrough” option and click “OK” to apply the strikethrough to the merged cell.

Is it possible to strikethrough only a part of the text in a cell?

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Unfortunately, Excel does not have a built-in feature to strikethrough only a part of the text in a cell. However, you can achieve a similar effect by using formulas or macros to manipulate the text and create a custom strikethrough effect.

Can I apply different strikethrough styles to different cells in the same worksheet?

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Yes, you can apply different strikethrough styles to different cells in the same worksheet. Select the cells you want to format, right-click, and choose “Format Cells.” In the Format Cells dialog box, select the desired strikethrough style from the drop-down menu and click “OK.” Repeat this process for each cell or range of cells with different strikethrough styles.