So you want to cross out text (like this) in Word, Excel, Google Docs, and/or PowerPoint using your keyboard shortcuts.
You are wise for looking this up!
That’s because strikethrough keyboard shortcuts like this are the fastest way to double your productivity in whatever software program you use most.
Word, Excel, Google Docs, and PowerPoint all have different sets of keyboard shortcuts you can use to create the strikethrough effect.
On top of that, you will see that there are a variety of other text effects you can quickly apply if you use the Font dialog box shortcuts described below.
It will be noted throughout the article which strikethrough shortcuts Mac or PC users can apply.
Strikethrough Shortcut in Google Docs

A. Strikethrough shortcut in Google Docs (PC Only)
- Select the text within your Google Docs that you would like to strikethrough
- Hold down Alt+ Shift + 5 and release

B. Google Docs strikethrough shortcut (Mac Only)
- Highlight the content you would like to strikethrough on Google Docs
- Hit Command + Shift + X
Strikethrough Shortcut in Excel

1. Strikethrough in Excel using the Ctrl + 5 shortcut (Mac & PC)
- Select the cells that you want to strikethrough in your spreadsheet
- Hit Ctrl + 5 on your keyboard

2. Excel strikethrough shortcut using your Ribbon Guide (PC only)
- Select the cells that you want to strikethrough in your spreadsheet
- Hit Alt, then H, then FN on your keyboard to open the Font dialog box
- Hit Alt + K to select the strikethrough effect
- Then hit Enter to accept the changes

3. Excel strikethrough shortcut using your Format Cells dialog box (PC only)
- Select the cells that you want to strikethrough in your spreadsheet
- Hit Ctrl + 1 on your keyboard to open the Format Cells dialog box
- Inside the dialog box, hit F to jump to the Font options (if it is not already open)
- Hit Alt + K to select the strikethrough option
- Then hit Enter to accept the changes

That means that if you last used the Font tab when you closed out of the dialog box, the next time you open the dialog box, it will start with the Font tab selected.
Inside the Font tab, you will also find a few other text effects that you can apply using your keyboard shortcuts. To use these shortcuts, simply hold the Alt key and hit the underlined letter (as pictured below).

- Strikethrough: Alt + K
- Superscript: ALt + E
- Subscript: Alt + B

4. Format Cells dialog box strikethrough shortcut (Mac only)
- Select the cells that you want to strikethrough in your spreadsheet
- Hit Ctrl + 1 on your keyboard to open the Format Cells dialog box
- The Font dialog box will appear, select the strikethrough text effect with your cursor to apply it to the cells
Word Strikethrough Shortcut

1. Use your Ribbon Guide shortcuts to cross out text in Word (PC only)
- Select the text you want to strike out in your Word document
- On your keyboard hit Alt, H, 4

2. Use your keyboard shortcut for the strikethrough effect (Mac only)
- Select the text you want to strike out in your Mac Word document
- On your keyboard hold down Command + Shift + X

3. Use your Font dialog box shortcuts in Word to cross out text (PC only)
- Select the text you want to strikethrough
- Hit Ctrl + D to open the Font dialog box
- Inside the Font dialog box, hit Alt + K to select the Strikethrough
- Hit Enter for okay

- Strikethrough: Alt + K
- Double strikethrough: Alt + L
- Superscript: Alt + P
- Subscript: Alt + B
- Small caps: Alt + M
- All caps: Alt + A
- Hidden: Alt + H

4. Use your Font dialog box as a strikethrough shortcut (Mac only)
- Select within your Word Document the text that you want to strikethrough
- Hold down Command + D and the Font dialog box will appear
- Use your cursor to select the text effect you would like to apply. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to select the text effect once you are in the Font dialog box.
Strikethrough Shortcut in PowerPoint
Just like the Word strikethrough shortcuts, there are two different keyboard strikethrough shortcuts you can use to put a line through your text in Microsoft PowerPoint (like this).
Which one is better?
That depends on what you are trying to accomplish, what system you use, and/or how many formatting options you want at your fingertips (with the Font dialog box shortcut giving you more options).

1. Shortcut the strikethrough command in your Ribbon (PC Only)
- Select the text (or object with text in it) that you want to strikethrough on your slide
- On your keyboard hit Alt, H, 4
Hitting the command once applies the crossed out text effect. Applying it a second time takes the text effect away.
Note: To make the Alt, H, 4 shortcut for strikethrough work, you do not need to hold the keys down. Instead, simply hit and let go of the Alt key, hit and let go of the H key, then hit and let go of the 4 key.
2. Use your Font dialog box shortcuts to strikethrough text (PC Only)
- Select the text (or object with text) that you want to strikethrough on your slide
- Hit Ctrl + T on your keyboard to open the Font dialog box
- Inside the Font dialog box, hit Alt + K to select the single strikethrough
- Hit Enter for okay
If you use the Font dialog box shortcut in PowerPoint (Ctrl + T), you also open up a number of other formatting options that you can additionally shortcut inside the dialog box by holding the Alt key and hitting the effects underlined letter (as pictured below).
- Strikethrough: Alt + K
- Double Strikethrough: Alt + L
- Superscript: Alt + P
- Subscript: Alt + B
- Small caps: Alt + M
- All caps: Alt + A
- Equalize Character Height: Alt + Q
To remove a strikethrough in PowerPoint, simply select the text (or object) with the strike out effect and either use the shortcut again, or hit Ctrl + Space Bar on your keyboard to clear all of the text’s formatting (reverting it back to the formatting set for your template).
3. Use your Font dialog box shortcuts to strikethrough text (Mac Only)
- Your text strikethrough shortcut for Mac starts with you selecting the text or object of text you want to strikethrough on your PowerPoint slide
- Hit the Command + T keyboard shortcut to open the Font dialog box
- Use your mouse to select the strikethrough effect (or one of the many other effects offered in PowerPoint
While this isn’t as direct of a shortcut as it is on a PC, this is still much faster than using your mouse for everything.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a variety of keyboard shortcuts you can use across the Microsoft Office suite and Google Docs to cross out text.
And while the keyboard shortcuts are nice, the Font dialog boxes give you the most formatting options.
If you enjoyed this tutorial and want to learn other keyboard shortcuts and tricks to speed up your work, visit us here.
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