Let me tell you something about strikethrough in Google Docs. Most people think it's just that line through text, right? But honestly, I've seen folks struggle with this more than you'd expect. Just last month, my colleague Sarah spent fifteen minutes trying to cross out a pricing error in our project doc before asking for help. That's when it hit me – we really need a proper guide on how to strikethrough Google Docs text properly.

Why You'd Even Want to Strike Through Text

Before we dive into the how-to part, let's talk about why you'd use this feature anyway. It's not just for marking typos. When I manage content calendars, strikethrough helps track completed tasks without deleting anything. During document collaborations (which I do daily), it shows suggested deletions while preserving original text. And in draft documents? Perfect for tracking revisions.

Here's a quick reality check though – Google Docs doesn't make strikethrough as obvious as bold or italic. It's hidden deeper than I'd like. But don't worry, I've got you covered with multiple methods.

The Absolute Easiest Ways to Strikethrough

Alright, let's get hands-on. You're editing a doc and need to cross something out immediately. Here's what works best from my experience:

Keyboard Shortcuts (My Personal Favorite)

I use shortcuts constantly – they save so much time. For strikethrough:

• Windows/Chrome OS: Press Alt + Shift + 5
• Mac: Press ⌘ + Shift + X

Just highlight text and bang those keys. Done. I literally use this multiple times daily when editing client docs. Why isn't this more widely known?

The Toolbar Method Step-by-Step

1. Select the text you want to cross out
2. Look at the formatting toolbar (top of your document)
3. See that "A" with a line through it? That's the strikethrough button
4. Click it. Magic happens.

But here's the catch – sometimes that icon hides if your window's too narrow. Happened to me during a video conference share once. Awkward. If you don't see it, click the three-dot "More" button on the toolbar right end.

Menu Navigation Path

Prefer menus? Here's how to strikethrough Google Docs using menus:

• Select target text
• Click "Format" in top menu
• Hover over "Text"
• Click "Strikethrough"

Honestly, this feels clunkier to me, but if you're menu-oriented, it works.

Notice how the keyboard shortcut dominates? That's why I push people to learn it. The first time you use Alt+Shift+5 to strikethrough text in Google Docs, you'll wonder how you lived without it.

Mobile Users: Strikethrough on Phone Apps

A client asked me last week why she couldn't find strikethrough on her Android app. Turns out, it's buried. Here's how to strikethrough Google Docs on mobile:

Android & iOS Instructions

1. Open doc in Google Docs app
2. Tap to edit text
3. Select the text you want
4. Tap the formatting icon (A with four lines)
5. Choose "Format"
6. Tap "Text" tab
7. Find and tap the strikethrough icon (S with line)

Kind of a pain, right? Takes seven taps versus one keyboard shortcut on desktop. Google should improve this. But it works once you know where to look.

Advanced Strikethrough Techniques

Now that you know basics, let's level up. Real document pros use strikethrough strategically.

Collaboration Power Moves

When my team collaborates on proposals, we use strikethrough instead of deleting. Why? Because:

• Shows revision history clearly
• Allows easy reversal of changes
• Provides context for edits

Combine this with "Suggesting Mode" for perfect document tracking. The strikethrough feature in Google Docs becomes even more powerful when collaborators add comments explaining why text was crossed out.

Formatting Nuances You Should Know

From painful experience, here's what they don't tell you:

The hyperlink thing cost me an hour of debugging once. Now I always add strikethrough last when dealing with links.

Fixing Strikethrough Problems

Sometimes things don't work right. From helping dozens of clients, here are common fixes:

Strikethrough Won't Apply

If you're trying to strikethrough text in Google Docs and nothing happens:

• Check if you're in "Viewing" mode (switch to Editing)
• Ensure text isn't inside a table with restricted formatting
• Try restarting your browser (seriously, works 90% of time)

I once spent twenty minutes troubleshooting only to realize I was in Suggesting Mode with no text selected. Facepalm moment.

Accidental Strikethrough Removal

Removing strikethrough is simple:

1. Select the crossed-out text
2. Use the same method you applied it (button/shortcut/menu)
3. Poof! It disappears

But prevention beats cure. When working on critical docs, I use version history liberally. File > Version history > See version history saves me monthly.

When Strikethrough Isn't Enough

Sometimes you need alternatives. Like when I was editing legal documents and strikethrough felt too informal. Options:

Highlighting Changes

Use colored highlighting instead for different meanings:

• Yellow = needs review
• Green = approved
• Red = critical issue

I actually prefer this for team brainstorming sessions. More visual than simple strikethrough Google Docs offers.

Commenting System

For complex edits:

1. Right-click text
2. Select "Comment"
3. Type your suggested change

This keeps the original text completely intact while providing edit context. Essential for academic papers or legal docs where every word matters.

Why Google Docs Got This Right (And Wrong)

After using strikethrough across multiple platforms, here's my take:

That missing double strikethrough bugs me sometimes. Legal folks use it constantly. Come on Google, add this already!

Real-World Applications Beyond Editing

Here's where strikethrough becomes unexpectedly useful:

Project Management

My content team tracks deliverables directly in Google Docs:

• [ ] Write blog draft → becomes [✓] when complete
• Task description gets strikethrough when done

No fancy software needed. Just simple strikethrough text Google Docs provides.

Pricing Tables

When updating service prices:

Basic Plan: $49/month $59/month

Shows old vs new pricing clearly. Customers immediately see the discount.

Learning Materials

Creating quizzes? Do this:

The capital of France is:
a) London
b) Madrid
c) Paris
d) Berlin

Helps students eliminate wrong answers visually. Better than just removing options.

FAQs: Your Strikethrough Questions Answered

From my support inbox, here are actual questions about how to strikethrough Google Docs:

Can I use strikethrough in Google Sheets?

Totally different process! Sheets requires Format > Text > Strikethrough. No direct shortcut exists. Annoying inconsistency if you ask me.

Why doesn't Ctrl+5 work for strikethrough?

Because Alt+Shift+5 is Windows shortcut. Mac uses ⌘+Shift+X. Ctrl+5 adjusts zoom level. Took me months to stop hitting the wrong combo.

Can I customize the strikethrough shortcut?

Sadly no. Unlike Microsoft Word, Google Docs doesn't allow shortcut customization. Big miss for power users. I've begged Google to add this feature.

Does strikethrough work in downloaded PDFs?

Yes! When you export to PDF, strikethrough formatting preserves perfectly. Essential for sharing contracts with revisions.

How to strikethrough partial words?

Just highlight specific letters or syllables before applying. Works exactly like bolding specific characters. Great for highlighting prefixes/suffixes in language docs.

Can I automate strikethrough formatting?

Sort of. Create a style with strikethrough applied, but it won't save just strikethrough alone. Google Docs forces you to save full style sets. Limited compared to Word's Styles pane.

Parting Thoughts from Experience

Mastering how to strikethrough in Google Docs seems trivial until you need it daily. That keyboard shortcut? Worth memorizing. The mobile workaround? Necessary evil. The collaborative power? Game-changing.

Is it perfect? Heck no. I wish Google would put the strikethrough button more prominently. And double strikethrough needs to happen yesterday. But for free software? Honestly, it gets the job done better than most alternatives.

Remember my colleague Sarah? She now strikes through text faster than anyone on our team. Once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you edited documents without it. Just don't go crossing out everything – that's a whole different problem!