How to Remove Strikethrough in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Strikethrough in Google Docs is a text style that crosses out text, often used to indicate completed tasks or changes. To remove strikethrough, highlight the affected text, click Format in the menu bar, go to Text, and deselect “Strikethrough.” This simple action will restore your text to its original state without the line running through it.

After completing this action, your text will appear clean and unmarked, as though strikethrough was never applied. This can help reduce confusion and improve the readability of your document, especially if the strikethrough was applied unintentionally or is no longer relevant.

Introduction

When working with Google Docs, you may find yourself needing to remove strikethrough from text. Whether it was added accidentally, or you’ve changed your mind about marking something as complete, knowing how to remove this formatting is essential. Strikethrough is used in various scenarios, such as crossing out completed tasks on a to-do list, or showing edits in a draft document. However, there are times when you need to clear this formatting to maintain a professional and polished look in your document.

Removing strikethrough is quite simple, but not everyone is familiar with how to do it. This article aims to guide you through the process step by step. It’s a skill that’s relevant to students, professionals, and anyone who uses Google Docs for personal or collaborative projects. By mastering this task, you can ensure your documents always look their best and convey the right information without any unnecessary distractions.

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Remove Strikethrough in Google Docs

The following steps will guide you through removing strikethrough from your text in Google Docs.

Step 1: Highlight the Text

Highlight the text with strikethrough that you want to remove.

Once you’ve identified the text that you want to fix, use your cursor to click and drag across the text, highlighting it from start to end. Make sure that the entire strikethrough text is selected before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Open the Format Menu

Click on the ‘Format’ option in the menu bar at the top of the page.

After highlighting the text, navigate to the top of the Google Docs page where you’ll find the menu options. Click on ‘Format,’ which will open a drop-down menu with various text formatting options.

Step 3: Navigate to Text and Strikethrough

Hover over ‘Text’ to expand the submenu, then click on ‘Strikethrough’ to deselect it.

In the expanded ‘Text’ submenu, you’ll see ‘Strikethrough’ among other options like ‘Bold,’ ‘Italic,’ and ‘Underline.’ If ‘Strikethrough’ is checked (with a tick mark), click on it. This action will remove the strikethrough from the highlighted text.

Pros

Benefit	Explanation
Ease of Use	Removing strikethrough in Google Docs is a straightforward process that requires no advanced knowledge or special tools.
Professionalism	Clean text without unnecessary formatting, like strikethrough, maintains a professional appearance in your documents.
Flexibility	You can remove strikethrough from any part of your text, whether it’s a single word, a sentence, or an entire paragraph.

Cons

Drawback	Explanation
Accidental Removal	It’s possible to unintentionally remove strikethrough if you’re not careful, potentially losing track of edits or completed items.
No Shortcut Key	Unlike some formatting options, there is no keyboard shortcut to remove strikethrough, which can slow down the editing process.
Limited to Google Docs	This method specifically applies to Google Docs and may not work the same way in other word processing software.

Additional Information

When working with strikethrough in Google Docs, it’s important to remember that this formatting can affect the readability of your document. While it’s useful for indicating changes or completed tasks, overusing strikethrough can make your text hard to read. It’s best to use this formatting sparingly and remove it once it’s no longer needed.

If you’re collaborating on a document, be sure to communicate with your team before removing strikethrough, as it might be serving a purpose in the editing process. Additionally, if you find yourself frequently adding and removing strikethrough, it might be worth exploring other ways to track changes or manage tasks within Google Docs or through external apps.

Remember, while the steps to remove strikethrough are simple, paying attention to detail and understanding the context of your document will ensure that you use this formatting effectively.

Summary

1. Highlight the text with strikethrough.
2. Click on the ‘Format’ option in the menu bar.
3. Hover over ‘Text’ and click on ‘Strikethrough’ to deselect it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a keyboard shortcut to remove strikethrough?

Currently, there is no keyboard shortcut specific to removing strikethrough in Google Docs.

Will removing strikethrough affect my document’s formatting?

No, removing strikethrough will only affect the selected text and will not alter any other formatting in your document.

Can I remove strikethrough from multiple selections at once?

Yes, you can highlight multiple sections of text with strikethrough and remove the formatting from all of them in one go.

Is it possible to customize the strikethrough style in Google Docs?

No, Google Docs does not offer customization for the strikethrough style—it is a standard line through the text.

What if the strikethrough doesn’t remove after following these steps?

Double-check that the text is properly highlighted and that you’ve deselected ‘Strikethrough’ in the ‘Text’ submenu. If it still doesn’t work, try refreshing the page or checking your internet connection.

Conclusion

Removing strikethrough in Google Docs is a simple, yet essential skill that can help maintain the clarity and professionalism of your documents. Whether you’re a student, a business professional, or just someone who likes to keep their digital notes tidy, mastering this task is a valuable part of your Google Docs toolkit.

Don’t forget to communicate with your collaborators and use strikethrough judiciously to ensure your documents are always easy to read and understand. Happy Docs formatting!