How to Draw a Line Through Something

By incorporating some of the less-commonly used features of word processing applications, it's possible to achieve exactly what you want with your document. So you may find yourself in a situation where you need to strikethrough text in Google Docs.

If you find that you often have part of a document that you are unsure about, then the Strikethrough formatting option can be very useful to you.

By drawing a line through a selection of text in your document you can indicate that the selection should be disregarded, but you don't actually need to delete it in case you think that you might want that information later.

Many word processing applications include the ability to apply strikethrough formatting to text, and Google Docs has it as well. Our guide below will show you how to select text and draw a line through it in the Docs application.

How to Strikethrough in Google Docs

1. Open your document.
2. Select the text to strikethrough.
3. Click Format.
4. Select Text, then Strikethrough.

Our guide continues below with more information on adding strikethrough text in Google Docs, as well as pictures of these steps.

How to Draw a Line Through Text in Google Docs (Guide with Pictures)

The steps in this article were performed in the Web-browser version (Google Chrome) of Google Docs. You can use this method to add the strikethrough formatting to any selection of text in your document.

Step 1: Go to Google Drive at https://drive.google.com/drive/my-drive and open the document to which you would like to add strikethrough.

Step 2: Select the text through which you would like to draw a line.

If you want to select the entire document, then click somewhere inside the document body, then press Ctrl + A on your keyboard.

Step 3: Click the Format tab at the top of the window.

Step 4: Choose Text, then select the Strikethrough option.

Our guide continues below with another way to draw a line through text in Google Docs with the help of a keyboard shortcut.

A Faster Way to Add a Line Through Text in Google Docs (Keyboard Shortcut)

While adding strikethough text in Docs isn't a common occurrence for a lot of people, there are individuals that use it a lot, and would like to be able to draw a line through their text a little faster than the method described above.

The best way to do this is by taking advantage of the strikethrough keyboard shortcut in Google Docs.

If you would prefer to use a keyboard shortcut, then you can simply select your content, then press Alt + Shift + 5 on your keyboard. If you would like a step-by-step guide on how to do this, then continue below.

Step 1: Use your mouse to highlight the text that you wish to strikethrough.

Step 2: Press the following keys simultaneously – Alt + Shift + 5.

If you are using a MacBook and want to strikethrough text with a keyboard shortcut, then you will need to use the Command + Shift + X option instead.

The selected text should now have a line drawn through it. This also works in reverse. If you have text in your document with a line through it, and you wish to remove that line, select words or numbers with strikethrough, then press Alt + Shift + 5 to remove it.

The section below details how to undo this in Google Docs if you want to remove the line through your text.

How to Remove Strikethrough in Google Docs

1. Open the document.
2. Select the text with strikethrough to remove.
3. Choose the Format tab.
4. Click Text, then Strikethrough.

As you can see, it's the same method as adding the strikethrough in the first place. But there isn't a dedicated option, so you are basically switching the switch back off.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I undo strikethrough in Google Docs?

You can undo strikethrough formatting the same way you added it. Select the text with the line through it, then click Format > Text > Strikethrough to remove it.

How do you strikethrough text?

If you want to strikethrough text, then the methods for drawing a line through text vary from application to application. However, it's usually a formatting option indicated by a couple of letters with a line drawn through them. For example, in Microsoft Word, there's a button that looks like this – ab – for strikethrough.

How do you type on a line in Google Docs?

You can underline text by selecting it, then clicking the Underline button in the toolbar. If you want to insert a line into the document you can go to Insert > Drawing > New then select the Line tool and draw a line. You can then add a text box to the drawing if you want to add words on top of the line.

Are there other keyboard shortcuts like the one to strikethrough text in Google Docs?

Google Docs has a lot of keyboard shortcuts that can help to improve your efficiency in the application. For example, if you want to format text quickly, then select the text you want to modify, then use Ctrl + B to bold the text, Ctrl + i to italicize it, or Ctrl + u to underline it. These are just examples of some common shortcuts, but you can see others next to their corresponding locations in the menu.

Why can't I use strikethrough on a Mac?

You can use strikethrough on a Mac, but the keyboard shortcut is different. You will need to highlight the text, then press Command + Shift + X on your keyboard. Additionally you can also select strikethrough from the Format menu at the top of the screen.

Does your document need to be double spaced, and you can't figure out how to get that formatting? Learn how to double space in Google Docs and adjust the spacing of your document to meet the requirements for your current task.

More Information

The formatting options available in Google's word processing application are mostly found either in the toolbar above the document, or by clicking the Format tab at the top of the window.

Aside from the strikethrough option that we discuss in this article you can do things like bold text, italicize it, or underline it. You can also change fonts, font sizes, and font colors.

If you are familiar with Microsoft Word and have transitioned to the Google suite of productivity applications, then you will likely find that most of the various tools and settings with which you were familiar are also found in the Google alternative. However, the interface is a little different, so some items are simply located in a different place.

One thing to try is selecting the content that you want to format, then right-clicking on it. The right click shortcut menu offers a nice selection of tools and options that might help you to locate the option that you need if you can't find it in the toolbar or the navigational menu.

One other useful formatting option you might want to try is the page break. You can read this tutorial on how to use them in Google Docs.

Additional Sources

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Disclaimer: Most of the pages on the internet include affiliate links, including some on this site.

How to Draw a Line Through Something

Source: https://www.solveyourtech.com/add-strikethrough-google-docs/

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