Striking out text in Excel is a handy feature that allows you to visually mark information as obsolete or irrelevant without deleting it. You can do this quickly by using the strikethrough option in Excel’s format cells feature. By following a few easy steps, you can strikeout text and keep your spreadsheets neat and organized.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Strikeout in Excel
In this section, we’ll walk through the steps to strikeout text in Excel. This guide will help you apply the strikethrough format to any cell content effortlessly.
Step 1: Select the cell(s) you want to strikeout
First, click on the cell or highlight the range of cells where you want to apply the strikethrough format.
When selecting multiple cells, click and drag across the desired cells or use the Shift key to select a range. This step is crucial as it determines which cells will have the strikethrough effect applied.
Step 2: Right-click and choose ‘Format Cells’
Right-click on the selected cell(s) and choose ‘Format Cells’ from the context menu that appears.
The Format Cells dialog box is a powerful tool that allows you to customize the appearance of your cell content. It houses various formatting options, including the strikethrough feature.
Step 3: Navigate to the Font tab
In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the ‘Font’ tab.
The Font tab is where you’ll find all text formatting options such as font style, size, and effects. This is the section where we will enable the strikethrough effect.
Step 4: Check the Strikethrough box
Within the Font tab, look for the ‘Effects’ section and check the box next to ‘Strikethrough.’
By selecting this option, you instruct Excel to draw a line through the selected cell content. This is the key step in applying the strikethrough format.
Step 5: Click OK to apply changes
Finally, click the ‘OK’ button to apply the changes and close the Format Cells dialog box.
Once you click OK, the selected cell content will now display with a line through it, indicating that it has been struck out.
After completing these steps, the text in the selected cells will have a strikethrough effect, making it easy to identify information that is no longer relevant or needs to be disregarded.
Tips for Striking Out in Excel
- Use keyboard shortcuts: Press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box quickly.
- Apply strikethrough via the ribbon: Go to the Home tab, click the Format dropdown, and select ‘Format Cells.’
- Conditional formatting: Use conditional formatting to apply strikethrough based on specific criteria.
- Customizing shortcuts: Add the strikethrough button to your Quick Access Toolbar for faster access.
- Batch formatting: Select entire rows or columns if you need to strikeout multiple cells at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use strikethrough with other text formats?
Yes, you can combine strikethrough with other formats like bold, italic, and underline.
Is there a shortcut key for strikethrough?
In some versions of Excel, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + 5 to apply strikethrough.
Can I remove strikethrough if I change my mind?
Absolutely, just follow the same steps and uncheck the Strikethrough box.
Does strikethrough affect cell formulas?
No, strikethrough only affects the appearance of the text, not the underlying cell formulas.
Can I apply strikethrough to part of the text in a cell?
Yes, you can select specific text within a cell and apply strikethrough to just that text.
Summary of Steps
- Select the cell(s) you want to strikeout.
- Right-click and choose ‘Format Cells.’
- Navigate to the Font tab.
- Check the Strikethrough box.
- Click OK to apply changes.
Conclusion
Striking out text in Excel is a simple yet powerful way to manage information in your spreadsheets. Whether you’re marking tasks as completed, identifying errors, or updating data, the strikethrough feature helps maintain clarity and organization. We’ve walked through the straightforward steps to apply this formatting, and shared tips to make the process even more efficient.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with the strikethrough option and other formatting tools to tailor your Excel sheets to your needs. For further reading, consider exploring additional Excel formatting techniques to enhance your productivity and efficiency in managing data. Happy Excel-ing!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.