Easy Keyboard Shortcut for Strikethrough in Excel

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to apply strikethrough formatting to text in Microsoft Excel? Using the strikethrough effect is a great way to visually indicate that certain information is no longer relevant or needs to be removed, without actually deleting it. In this article, we’ll show you the simple keyboard shortcut to strikethrough in Excel, as well as a few other methods to add or remove this formatting with just a couple clicks.

What Does Strikethrough Mean in Excel?

In Excel, strikethrough is a type of text formatting that places a thin horizontal line through the middle of the selected text. It’s a way to cross out words or values without erasing them completely.

Strikethrough can be used in spreadsheets to show that:

• An item or task has been completed
• Certain data is no longer accurate or relevant
• You want to keep the original information visible while indicating it should be disregarded

Essentially, strikethrough formatting provides a visual cue that draws attention to outdated or invalid text, while preserving it in the spreadsheet.

Strikethrough Shortcut Excel: Step-by-Step Instructions

The easiest and fastest way to apply or remove strikethrough formatting in Excel is by using a simple keyboard shortcut. Here’s how it works:

1. Select the cell or range of cells containing the text you want to format
2. Press Ctrl + 5 on your keyboard
3. Excel will instantly draw a strikethrough line through the selected text
4. To remove strikethrough formatting, simply select the text again and press Ctrl + 5 to toggle the strikethrough off

That’s all there is to it! This handy shortcut works in all versions of Excel for Microsoft Windows. On a Mac, you can use the similar shortcut Command + Shift + X to add or remove strikethrough.

Strikethrough Multiple Cells at Once

Want to quickly apply strikethrough to more than one cell? No problem – just click and drag to highlight all the cells you want to format, then hit Ctrl + 5. This will add strikethrough to the entire selected range in one step.

It’s an easy way to cross out several items at once, such as:

• Completed tasks in a to-do list
• Old dates or deadlines in a schedule
• Rows of data you want to exclude from calculations

Using Strikethrough with Other Formatting

Keep in mind that strikethrough is just one type of text formatting in Excel. You can combine it with other formatting options, such as bold, italic, underline, or different font colors, to further customize the appearance of your text.

For example, you might want to use strikethrough to cross out old data, but make the strikethrough red to really draw attention to it. Or you could bold and strikethrough important tasks that have been completed in a project plan.

To apply multiple formatting options at once:

1. Select the cell(s) you want to format
2. Hold down the Ctrl key and press the relevant shortcuts for each format (e.g. Ctrl + 5 for strikethrough, Ctrl + B for bold, etc.)
3. Repeat for any other formatting you want to include
4. Release the Ctrl key when you’re done

The selected text will now have all the desired formatting applied to it. Experiment with different combinations to see what works best for your needs!

Other Ways to Apply Strikethrough in Excel

In addition to the Ctrl + 5 shortcut, there are a couple other ways to add strikethrough formatting to your Excel spreadsheets. These methods can be useful if you forget the shortcut or want to visualize the strikethrough button.

Using the Font Group on the Home Tab

Here’s how to use the strikethrough button on the ribbon:

1. Select the cell(s) you want to format
2. Go to the Home tab on the Excel ribbon
3. Look for the Font group
4. Click the Strikethrough button (it looks like abc with a line through it)
5. Excel will add strikethrough formatting to the highlighted text
6. To remove strikethrough, select the text and click the Strikethrough button again

Using the Format Cells Dialog Box

You can also access strikethrough via the Format Cells menu:

1. Right-click the cell(s) you want to format
2. Choose Format Cells from the context menu
3. Go to the Font tab in the Format Cells dialog box
4. Check the box next to Strikethrough under Effects
5. Click OK to apply the formatting
6. To undo strikethrough, uncheck the Strikethrough box or click Reset

While these options require a few more steps than the keyboard shortcut, some users may prefer them if they are less comfortable with shortcuts in general.

Strikethrough Shortcut Not Working? Troubleshooting Tips

If you find that the strikethrough shortcut Ctrl + 5 doesn’t seem to be working in your version of Excel, here are a few things to check:

• Make sure you are actually pressing the number 5 key and not another key in that row (like % or ^). The strikethrough shortcut will only work with 5.
• Check if you have accidentally hit the Num Lock key on, which shifts the functions of the number pad. Tap Num Lock to turn it off and try the shortcut again.
• Confirm that you are using the correct shortcut for your operating system. On Windows, use Ctrl + 5. On a Mac, use Command + Shift + X.
• Try restarting Excel. Sometimes the program can glitch and stop responding to certain shortcuts. Closing and reopening the application often resolves this.

If none of the above tips fix the issue, you may want to try the strikethrough button or dialog box method instead. In rare cases, the keyboard shortcut may be disabled or mapped to a different function, so these alternate methods should still work.

Strikethrough vs Underline in Excel

Although strikethrough and underline are both types of text formatting in Excel, they serve different purposes. Here’s a quick comparison:

So while underline and strikethrough may seem similar at first glance, they actually convey quite different meanings in spreadsheets. Use strikethrough when you want to cross something out, and underline when you want to highlight it.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, adding or removing strikethrough in Excel is a very straightforward process. Once you learn the quick Ctrl + 5 shortcut, you’ll be able to apply this formatting with just your keyboard – no more hunting through menus or dialog boxes!

Strikethrough is a useful way to visually cross out text in spreadsheets without removing the original data. Whether you use it for completed tasks, outdated information, or items to exclude, the strikethrough formatting helps keep your worksheets clean and easy to read.

For more time-saving tips, be sure to check out our other articles on mastering Excel shortcuts and functions. With the right tools and tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be working faster and more efficiently in no time!

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Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.