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How to Cross Out Words in a Microsoft Word Document: 8 Steps
Jul
Crossing out words in a Microsoft Word document is one of those tiny formatting tricks that looks simpleuntil you need it at 11:47 p.m. while editing a contract, revising an essay, marking a completed task, or trying to politely say, “This sentence has been fired, but we are keeping the evidence.” The good news: learning how to cross out words in Word takes less time than finding the perfect font for your document title.
In Microsoft Word, crossed-out text is called strikethrough. It places a horizontal line through selected words without deleting them. That makes it useful for editing drafts, showing removed text, creating checklists, tracking revisions, comparing old and new wording, or adding a little visual drama to a sentence that deserved better. You can apply strikethrough from the Home tab, the Font dialog box, keyboard shortcuts, or Track Changes, depending on what you want the crossed-out words to communicate.
This guide explains how to cross out words in a Microsoft Word document in 8 clear steps, including the standard strikethrough button, double strikethrough, shortcuts for Windows and Mac, removal methods, and common troubleshooting tips.
What Does “Cross Out Words” Mean in Microsoft Word?
To cross out words in Word means to apply strikethrough formatting. The text remains readable, but a line appears through the middle of it. For example, a phrase like submit the report Friday can become visually marked as outdated while still staying visible in the document.
This is different from deleting text. When you delete text, it disappears. When you use strikethrough, the words remain in place so readers can see what changed, what was rejected, or what has been completed. Think of it as the editorial equivalent of leaving a tiny paper trailminus the coffee stains.
How to Cross Out Words in a Microsoft Word Document: 8 Steps
Step 1: Open Your Microsoft Word Document
Start by opening the Word document that contains the words you want to cross out. This can be a school essay, work proposal, manuscript draft, legal document, checklist, meeting notes, or any other Word file.
If you are creating a new document, type the text first. Strikethrough works on existing text, so Word needs something to format before it can draw that satisfying little line across it.
Step 2: Select the Words You Want to Cross Out
Click and drag across the word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph you want to format. You can select a single word, several words, an entire line, or multiple paragraphs.
For faster selection, double-click a word to select it, triple-click within a paragraph to select the full paragraph, or press Ctrl + A on Windows or Command + A on Mac to select the entire document. Use full-document selection carefully, though. Accidentally crossing out your whole report may be emotionally honest, but it is rarely professionally ideal.
Step 3: Go to the Home Tab
Look at the top of Microsoft Word and click the Home tab. This is where Word keeps many of its most commonly used formatting tools, including bold, italic, underline, font size, text color, highlighting, and strikethrough.
The Home tab is usually selected by default, but if you have been exploring other tabs like Insert, Layout, References, Review, or View, return to Home before continuing.
Step 4: Find the Strikethrough Button in the Font Group
In the Home tab, look for the Font group. The strikethrough button usually looks like letters with a horizontal line through them, often displayed as abc with a line across the middle.
It typically appears near the Bold, Italic, and Underline buttons. If your Word window is narrow or your screen is zoomed in, the button may be tucked into a collapsed menu. Expanding the Word window or opening the Font dialog box can help you find it.
Step 5: Click the Strikethrough Button
With your text selected, click the Strikethrough button. Word will immediately draw a line through the selected words. That is the basic method, and for most users, it is the fastest and easiest way to cross out text in Microsoft Word.
For example, if your sentence says:
The meeting will happen on Tuesday.
You could cross out Tuesday and write Wednesday after it:
Tuesday Wednesday
This keeps the old information visible while making the update clear. It is especially useful when editing drafts, marking changes in notes, or showing revisions without using formal Track Changes.
Step 6: Use a Keyboard Shortcut for Faster Formatting
If you cross out words often, keyboard shortcuts can save time. On many Windows versions of Word, you can use Ribbon key tips by pressing Alt, then H, then 4. This activates the strikethrough command from the Home tab without needing the mouse.
On Word for Mac, the common shortcut for strikethrough is Command + Shift + X. Select the text first, then press the shortcut. Pressing the same shortcut again usually removes the strikethrough.
You can also open the Font dialog box and apply strikethrough from there. On Windows, pressing Ctrl + D opens the Font dialog box. Then you can check the Strikethrough option and confirm your choice. This method is useful when you want more control over text formatting in one place.
Step 7: Apply Double Strikethrough When Needed
Microsoft Word also includes double strikethrough, which places two lines through the selected text. This style is less common, but it can be useful in specialized editing, document review, forms, or situations where you want stronger visual emphasis.
To apply double strikethrough, select the text, open the Font dialog box, and choose Double strikethrough. In Word for Windows, you can usually open this dialog box by clicking the small diagonal arrow in the lower-right corner of the Font group on the Home tab.
Use double strikethrough sparingly. It is bold, noticeable, and slightly dramaticlike strikethrough wearing a tiny business suit and carrying a clipboard.
Step 8: Save, Review, or Remove the Strikethrough
After crossing out your words, review the document to make sure the formatting appears exactly where you want it. If you are satisfied, save the file.
To remove strikethrough, select the crossed-out text and click the Strikethrough button again. Strikethrough is a toggle, meaning the same command turns it on and off. You can also use the same keyboard shortcut again or clear formatting if you want to remove multiple styles at once.
Be careful with Clear Formatting. It can remove strikethrough, but it may also remove bold, italics, font choices, color, highlighting, and other formatting. If you only want to remove the line through the text, use the strikethrough button instead.
When Should You Use Strikethrough in Word?
Strikethrough is useful whenever you want to show that text is no longer current without erasing it completely. It is common in editing, brainstorming, version comparisons, task lists, and informal document review.
Here are practical examples:
- Editing drafts: Cross out weak wording while keeping it visible for comparison.
- To-do lists: Mark completed tasks without deleting them.
- Meeting notes: Show agenda items that were canceled or moved.
- Price or policy updates: Display old information beside new information.
- Collaborative writing: Suggest removals without permanently deleting another person’s text.
For example, in a planning document, you might write:
Launch campaign on May 10 Launch campaign on May 17
This makes the change clear while preserving the history of the decision.
Strikethrough vs. Track Changes: What Is the Difference?
Strikethrough and Track Changes may look similar, but they serve different purposes. Manual strikethrough is simply formatting. You select text and apply a line through it. Word does not treat it as a formal revision.
Track Changes, on the other hand, is a review feature. When Track Changes is turned on, Word records insertions, deletions, formatting edits, and comments. Deleted text may appear with strikethrough depending on your markup settings, while new text may appear underlined or in a different color.
Use manual strikethrough when you want quick visual formatting. Use Track Changes when you need a formal editing workflow, especially for contracts, academic papers, manuscripts, business documents, or team review.
How to Cross Out Words in Word on Windows
On Windows, the easiest method is:
- Select the text.
- Go to Home.
- Click Strikethrough in the Font group.
For keyboard access, select the text and press Alt, then H, then 4. You can also press Ctrl + D to open the Font dialog box and choose strikethrough there.
How to Cross Out Words in Word on Mac
On Mac, select the text and use the strikethrough option from the Word ribbon. In many versions of Word for Mac, you can also press Command + Shift + X after selecting the text.
If you do not see the strikethrough button immediately, look in the Font area or open the Font formatting dialog. Word for Mac and Word for Windows are similar, but the layout can vary slightly depending on your version, display size, and toolbar settings.
How to Cross Out Words in Word Online
Word for the web also supports basic text formatting, including strikethrough. Open your document in Word online, select the text, go to the Home tab, and click the strikethrough button if available in your toolbar.
Because the web version has a more compact interface, some buttons may appear under expanded menus. If you cannot find the strikethrough icon, widen your browser window or look for additional formatting options in the toolbar.
Common Problems and Quick Fixes
The Strikethrough Button Is Missing
If you cannot see the strikethrough button, your Word window may be too narrow, or the ribbon may be collapsed. Expand the window, click the Home tab, or open the Font dialog box. You can also search Word’s command box for “strikethrough” if your version includes a search feature.
The Wrong Text Was Crossed Out
This usually happens because the wrong text was selected. Press Ctrl + Z on Windows or Command + Z on Mac to undo the action, then select the correct words and try again.
Strikethrough Will Not Go Away
Select the crossed-out text and click the strikethrough button again. If that does not work, open the Font dialog box and make sure Strikethrough and Double strikethrough are unchecked. If the line is part of Track Changes markup, you may need to accept or reject the change instead of removing normal formatting.
Deleted Text Is Showing with Strikethrough
If deleted words appear crossed out automatically, Track Changes is probably turned on. Go to the Review tab and check whether Track Changes is active. You can turn it off, accept the changes, reject the changes, or change how markup is displayed.
Best Practices for Using Strikethrough in Professional Documents
Strikethrough is helpful, but it should not be sprinkled everywhere like confetti at a spreadsheet party. In professional documents, use it with intention.
If you are editing a draft for yourself, strikethrough can be casual and flexible. If you are sending a document to a client, teacher, manager, or legal reviewer, consider whether Track Changes would be more appropriate. For formal edits, Track Changes is clearer because it records who changed what and allows reviewers to accept or reject revisions.
Also, avoid crossing out long sections unless there is a specific reason. A few crossed-out words are easy to read. A full page of crossed-out paragraphs can feel like reading a document through a picket fence.
Experience Notes: Practical Lessons From Using Strikethrough in Word
In real-world writing and editing, strikethrough is more than a decorative line. It is a communication tool. One of the most useful experiences with strikethrough happens during early drafting. When writing an essay, article, proposal, or report, deleting a sentence too quickly can be risky. Sometimes the original wording is not perfect, but it contains an idea worth saving. By crossing it out instead of deleting it, you give yourself room to compare the old version with the new version.
For example, imagine you are writing a product description. Your first draft says, “This software is very good for teams.” That sentence is technically alive, but barely. You might cross it out and write, “This software helps teams organize projects, track deadlines, and reduce daily follow-up messages.” Now you can see the improvement clearly. The crossed-out sentence reminds you what changed and why the new version is stronger.
Strikethrough is also excellent for personal productivity. A Word checklist with completed items crossed out gives a stronger feeling of progress than simply deleting tasks. There is something wonderfully satisfying about seeing send invoice, reply to client, and finish introduction sitting there like tiny trophies. The tasks are done, but the proof remains.
In collaborative editing, however, strikethrough should be used carefully. If you are editing someone else’s document, manual strikethrough can be helpful for informal suggestions, but Track Changes is usually better for formal review. Track Changes gives the writer control over accepting or rejecting edits. Manual strikethrough can sometimes look final, even when you only meant, “Maybe consider removing this.” A short comment beside the crossed-out text can prevent confusion.
Another lesson: double strikethrough is powerful but rarely necessary. Single strikethrough is enough for most writing, editing, and checklist needs. Double strikethrough can be useful in specialized documents, but in ordinary writing it may look too heavy. Readers should notice the edit, not wonder whether the sentence committed a formatting crime.
Finally, always review your document before sharing it. Strikethrough may be useful during editing, but not every crossed-out note belongs in the final version. Before sending a polished document, search visually for crossed-out words, check Track Changes, and decide whether the marked text should stay visible. Used well, strikethrough makes Word documents clearer, smarter, and easier to revise. Used carelessly, it can make a finished document look like it lost an argument with a red pen.
Conclusion
Learning how to cross out words in a Microsoft Word document is simple, but the feature is surprisingly useful. Select the text, go to the Home tab, click Strikethrough, and Word will place a clean line through your chosen words. You can also use keyboard shortcuts, the Font dialog box, double strikethrough, or Track Changes depending on your editing needs.
The key is to use strikethrough with purpose. It is perfect for showing edits, marking completed tasks, comparing old and new wording, or preserving removed text for context. Whether you are polishing a business report, revising a school paper, updating meeting notes, or making a checklist that actually feels rewarding, strikethrough is a small Word feature that does a very useful job.
Note: Menu names and shortcut behavior can vary slightly depending on your Microsoft Word version, operating system, keyboard layout, and whether you are using the desktop, Mac, mobile, or web version of Word.
