The strike through shortcut key in Word is a ribbon sequence: select the text, then press Alt, H, 4 one after another. A line appears through the words. Repeat the sequence to remove it. PowerPoint uses the same keys.
Excel is the exception with a real shortcut, Ctrl + 5. Word for Mac uses Command + Shift + X. If you strike text often in Word, you can give it your own one key shortcut, explained below.
Quick facts
Word, PowerPoint
Alt, then H, then 4Excel
Ctrl + 5Font dialog
Ctrl + D, Alt + K, EnterDouble strike
Ctrl + D, Alt + LWord for Mac
Command + Shift + XRemove
Same keys again
Strike through shortcut key by program
| Program | Keys |
|---|---|
| Word | Alt, then H, then 4 |
| PowerPoint | Alt, then H, then 4 |
| Excel | Ctrl + 5 |
| Word, through the Font box | Ctrl + D, then Alt + K, then Enter |
| Word for Mac | Command + Shift + X |
The Excel key has its own page: strikethrough shortcut in Excel.
Strike through in Word, step by step
- Select the words with the mouse, or with Shift and the arrow keys.
- Press Alt. Key letters appear on the ribbon.
- Tap H to choose Home, and 4 applies Strikethrough.
- The text now has a line through it. Repeat to remove it.
The Font box method, Ctrl + D then Alt + K, also offers Double strikethrough with Alt + L, used in some legal and accounts documents.
Make Ctrl + Shift + X your Word strikethrough key
- In Word, open File, Options, then Customize Ribbon.
- Next to Keyboard shortcuts at the bottom, click Customize.
- Choose Home Tab in Categories and Strikethrough in Commands.
- Click in Press new shortcut key, press a free combination such as Ctrl + Shift + X, then Assign and Close.
Word warns you if the combination is already used. The new key works in every document on that computer.
When to use strikethrough
Strikethrough shows that something is cancelled or done while keeping it readable: finished tasks in a to do list, prices that changed in a quotation draft, or a correction in meeting notes. For text that should simply disappear, delete it instead. In chat apps and some web editors, wrapping text in tildes such as ~text~ creates strikethrough; check the app's help. For heavier or underlined text, read our bold and underline guide.
When strikethrough does not work
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Alt, H, 4 types a 4 | Press and release Alt first, then H, then 4 |
| Line appears on the whole paragraph | Select only the words you need first |
| Ctrl + 5 does nothing in Word | That is the Excel key; Word uses Alt, H, 4 |
| Strikethrough disappears when pasted | The target is plain text; use the app's own formatting |
Frequently asked questions
What is the strike through shortcut key in Word?
Does Excel use a different strikethrough key?
Yes, Excel has its own: Ctrl + 5.
Is there a Ctrl shortcut for strikethrough in Word?
Not by default, but you can assign one in Customize Keyboard.
How do I remove strikethrough?
Select the text and use the same keys again.
What is the strikethrough shortcut in Word for Mac?
What is double strikethrough?
Two lines through text, set in the Font box with Alt + L.