How to Strikethrough Text in PowerPoint: A Simple Guide

If you’re working on a PowerPoint presentation and need to strikethrough text, it’s a straightforward process. Strikethrough text is often used to indicate something that has been removed or is no longer relevant. Whether you’re editing a slide or creating a template, this feature can be handy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to strikethrough text in PowerPoint on both Windows and Mac versions.

What is Strikethrough in PowerPoint?

Strikethrough is a formatting feature that places a horizontal line through the center of the text. This effect is often used to suggest that a word or sentence should be deleted or has been revised.

Why Use Strikethrough in PowerPoint?

There are several reasons you might want to use the strikethrough feature in your PowerPoint presentations:

• Editing and Revising Content: Quickly mark content that needs to be removed.
• Emphasizing Changes: Show what has been changed or updated in a presentation.
• Organizing Thoughts: Visually separate completed tasks or ideas from those still under consideration.

How to Strikethrough Text in PowerPoint on Windows

Step 1: Select the Text

First, highlight the text you want to strikethrough. You can do this by clicking and dragging your cursor over the text. This text will be the focus of your strikethrough formatting.

Step 2: Access the Font Dialog Box

After selecting the text, go to the Home tab on the PowerPoint ribbon. In the Font group, click on the small arrow at the bottom-right corner. This will open the Font dialog box where you can customize various text features.

Step 3: Apply Strikethrough

In the Font dialog box, look for the Strikethrough option. It should be located under the Effects section. Check the box next to Strikethrough and click OK. The selected text will now appear with a line through it.

How to Strikethrough Text in PowerPoint on Mac

The process to strikethrough text on Mac is similar to Windows with a few minor differences.

Step 1: Highlight the Text

Start by selecting the text you want to apply the strikethrough effect to. Make sure the text is highlighted before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2: Open the Font Dialog Box

On the Home tab of the PowerPoint ribbon, click the Font group. Then, click on the Format option, which will open the Font dialog box.

Step 3: Enable Strikethrough

Within the Font dialog box, locate the Strikethrough checkbox under the Effects section. Tick the box, and then click OK to apply the strikethrough. Your text will now have a line through it.

Using Strikethrough with Keyboard Shortcuts

If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts for efficiency, you can apply strikethrough directly using the following shortcuts:

• For Windows: Highlight the text and press Ctrl + T to open the Font dialog box. Then, check the Strikethrough option.
• For Mac: Highlight the text and press Command + T to bring up the Font dialog box. From there, you can apply strikethrough as described earlier.

Strikethrough Multiple Lines of Text

You can apply strikethrough to multiple lines of text by simply selecting all the text at once and following the steps outlined above. The strikethrough effect will be applied uniformly across all selected lines.

Double Strikethrough in PowerPoint

While double strikethrough is more common in Word, you can achieve a similar effect in PowerPoint using a combination of strikethrough and underline or by manually drawing a line through the text.

Step 1: Apply Strikethrough

Use the regular strikethrough method as described above to apply the first line through the text.

Step 2: Add an Underline (Optional)

If you want to mimic a double strikethrough effect, you can underline the text by selecting the Underline option in the Font dialog box. This will add a second line below the text.

Step 3: Draw a Line (Manual Method)

Alternatively, you can manually draw a second line through the text using the Shapes tool. Go to the Insert tab, select Shapes, and choose the Line tool. Draw a line through the text, aligning it with the existing strikethrough.

Formatting Options Beyond Strikethrough

PowerPoint offers several other text formatting options that you might find useful in your presentations:

• Bold, Italic, and Underline: Standard formatting tools for emphasizing text.
• Text Shadow: Adds a shadow effect to make text stand out.
• Superscript and Subscript: Useful for scientific or mathematical presentations.

Comparison of Formatting Options in PowerPoint

How to Remove Strikethrough in PowerPoint

If you need to remove the strikethrough from your text, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Highlight the Text

Select the text from which you want to remove the strikethrough effect.

Step 2: Open the Font Dialog Box

Go to the Home tab and click on the Font dialog box launcher.

Step 3: Uncheck Strikethrough

In the Font dialog box, uncheck the Strikethrough option under the Effects section, then click OK. The line through your text will be removed.

Troubleshooting Strikethrough Issues in PowerPoint

Sometimes, users may encounter issues with the strikethrough feature not working as expected. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Problem 1: Strikethrough Not Appearing

If the strikethrough effect does not appear, make sure the text is selected and that the correct option is checked in the Font dialog box.

Problem 2: Strikethrough Affecting Unselected Text

If the strikethrough is being applied to more text than intended, ensure that only the specific text is highlighted before applying the effect.

Problem 3: Strikethrough Line Misaligned

If the strikethrough line appears misaligned, check the font size and text alignment settings. Adjusting these settings can often correct the alignment.

Advanced Strikethrough Techniques in PowerPoint

For users who want to go beyond the basics, here are a few advanced techniques for using strikethrough in PowerPoint.

Strikethrough in Custom Animations

You can use the strikethrough effect as part of a custom animation to emphasize changes during a presentation.

• Step 1: Apply the strikethrough effect as described earlier.
• Step 2: Use the Animations tab to add an animation that highlights the text or brings it into focus.
• Step 3: Customize the animation to make the strikethrough appear or disappear during the slide show.

Combining Strikethrough with Other Effects

You can combine strikethrough with other text effects, such as color changes or font adjustments, to create a more dynamic presentation.

• Step 1: Apply the strikethrough effect.
• Step 2: Change the text color or font style in the Font dialog box.
• Step 3: Experiment with different combinations to find the effect that best suits your presentation.

Final Thoughts

Using the strikethrough feature in PowerPoint is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your presentations. Whether you’re editing content, emphasizing changes, or organizing your thoughts, strikethrough provides a clear visual cue to your audience. With the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily apply and customize strikethrough text in both Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint.

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Trish Dixon

Trish Dixon is the founder of PPTBliss and a PowerPoint expert with over a decade of experience in presentation design. Passionate about visual storytelling, Trish shares her expertise through easy-to-follow tutorials on slide design, animations, transitions, and best practices, helping professionals create impactful presentations across industries.

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