Google Docs is a popular word processing application that allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on documents online. One useful text formatting feature in Google Docs is the strikethrough tool. Strikethrough allows you to cross out words, sentences, or paragraphs to indicate deletions, revisions, or text that is no longer accurate or relevant.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about using strikethrough on Google Docs.
Reasons to Use Strikethrough on Google Docs
Here are some of the main reasons you may want to use strikethrough formatting in your Google Docs:
- Indicate text deletions – Crossing out text is an easy way to show content that has been removed from a document. This allows collaborators to see what changes have been made.
- Mark revisions – Strikethrough helps highlight where edits and rewrites have occurred in a document.
- Show factual errors – Crossing out incorrect or outdated statements is a clear, visual cue that the information is no longer accurate.
- Add humor or irony – Applying strikethrough to a phrase can add humor or irony to text. For example, crossing out a serious statement to undermine it.
Using strikethrough for deletions, edits, corrections, and stylistic purposes makes documents easier to follow and comprehend for all readers and collaborators.
How to Strikethrough Text on Google Docs
Strikethrough can be applied in Google Docs through the user interface or with handy keyboard shortcuts. Here are the steps for both methods:
Using the Format Menu
- Highlight the text you want to strikethrough by clicking and dragging over it with your mouse.
- Click Format in the top menu and select Text.
- Choose Strikethrough from the dropdown menu.
The selected text will now have a horizontal line crossing through the center of it.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
- Windows: Highlight text and press Ctrl + Alt + 5
- Mac: Highlight text and press ⌘ + Shift + X
The keyboard shortcuts provide the fastest way to apply strikethrough formatting. Using the same shortcuts again will remove the strikethrough.
Customizing Strikethrough Appearance
You can customize the appearance of strikethrough lines in Google Docs to suit your preferences:
- Color – Change the color of strikethrough lines for clearer visibility or to coordinate with text.
- Thickness – Make lines thinner or thicker depending on the size and style of surrounding text.
- Double strikethrough – Apply two parallel strikethrough lines for extra emphasis.
To access the formatting options, highlight the text and open the Text menu under Format. Select Strikethrough options to view and adjust the appearance settings.
Strikethrough on Mobile Devices
Google Docs is available as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. The strikethrough tool works similarly on phones and tablets:
- Tap to highlight the desired text.
- Tap the A icon to open formatting options.
- Select the Strikethrough button, which looks like an S with a line through it.
This will cross out the selected text. The appearance settings can also be accessed through the text formatting menu.
Conclusion
Whether you are managing edits across multiple collaborators or simply want to call out important changes in a personal document, strikethrough is an invaluable text formatting feature. With the techniques covered in this guide, you can now apply, customize, and remove strikethrough with ease in Google Docs on all devices. Cross out text like a pro!
