Strikethrough is a useful formatting feature in Excel that allows you to add a line through text or numbers, indicating that the information is no longer relevant or has been replaced. It is a simple yet effective way to visually distinguish and mark certain cells in your spreadsheet. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various methods to apply strikethrough in Excel, making your data analysis and presentation more efficient and professional.

Method 1: Using the Strikethrough Button

The easiest way to apply strikethrough formatting is by using the dedicated Strikethrough button in the Excel ribbon. Here's how you can do it:

1. Select the cells or range of cells you want to apply the strikethrough to.
2. Go to the Home tab in the Excel ribbon.
3. In the Font group, you will find the Strikethrough button. It looks like a letter AB with a line through it.
4. Click on the Strikethrough button, and Excel will instantly apply the formatting to your selected cells.

This method is straightforward and quick, especially if you need to apply strikethrough to a small number of cells or if you prefer a more visual approach to formatting.

Method 2: Applying Strikethrough with Keyboard Shortcuts

If you prefer a faster approach or work with keyboard shortcuts, Excel provides a handy keyboard shortcut for applying strikethrough. Follow these steps:

1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + 5 on your keyboard. This shortcut applies the strikethrough formatting to the selected cells.
3. You can also use the Ctrl + 2 shortcut to remove the strikethrough from selected cells.

Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to speed up your workflow and reduce the need for mouse clicks. It's an efficient method for those who prefer working with the keyboard.

Method 3: Using the Format Cells Dialog Box

The Format Cells dialog box in Excel offers a more comprehensive way to apply various formatting options, including strikethrough. Here's how you can use it:

1. Select the cells where you want to apply the strikethrough.
2. Right-click on the selected cells and choose Format Cells from the context menu.
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, navigate to the Font tab.
4. Under the Effects section, check the box next to Strikethrough.
5. Click OK, and Excel will apply the strikethrough formatting to your selected cells.

The Format Cells dialog box provides additional options to customize your formatting, such as choosing a different font style or color. It's a versatile method for those who require more control over their formatting.

Method 4: Applying Strikethrough with VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)

For advanced users or those who work with complex Excel tasks, VBA can be a powerful tool to automate formatting. Here's a simple VBA code snippet to apply strikethrough to a range of cells:

Sub ApplyStrikethrough()
    Range("A1:C10").Font.Strikethrough = True
End Sub

To use this code:

1. Open the VBA Editor by pressing Alt + F11 or going to Developer > Visual Basic (if the Developer tab is not visible, enable it in Excel options).
2. Insert a new module and paste the code into it.
3. Run the macro by pressing F5 or clicking the Run button.
4. The code will apply strikethrough to the range A1:C10. You can modify the range as needed.

⚠️ Note: VBA requires some programming knowledge and is best suited for advanced users or those working with complex Excel tasks.

Removing Strikethrough

If you need to remove the strikethrough formatting from cells, you can use the same methods as above with a slight variation. For the first three methods, simply select the cells and either:

• Click the Strikethrough button again to toggle it off.
• Use the Ctrl + 2 keyboard shortcut.
• Uncheck the Strikethrough option in the Format Cells dialog box.

For VBA, you can modify the code to set Strikethrough to False instead of True, effectively removing the formatting.

Advanced Strikethrough Techniques

While the basic strikethrough is a single line through the text, Excel offers some advanced techniques to customize the strikethrough effect:

Double Strikethrough

To apply a double strikethrough, use the following VBA code:

Sub ApplyDoubleStrikethrough()
    Range("A1:C10").Font.Strikethrough = True
    Range("A1:C10").Font.DoubleStrikethrough = True
End Sub

This code applies a double line through the selected range.

Customizing Strikethrough Color

You can change the color of the strikethrough line using the Color property in VBA. Here's an example:

Sub CustomStrikethroughColor()
    Range("A1:C10").Font.Strikethrough = True
    Range("A1:C10").Font.Color = RGB(255, 0, 0) ' Red color
End Sub

This code applies a red strikethrough to the specified range.

Conclusion

Excel's strikethrough feature is a simple yet powerful tool to enhance the readability and organization of your data. Whether you're marking outdated information or visually indicating changes, the various methods outlined in this guide provide flexibility and efficiency in applying strikethrough formatting. From quick keyboard shortcuts to advanced VBA customization, you now have the knowledge to strike through your Excel data with ease.

FAQ

Can I apply strikethrough to an entire column or row at once?

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Yes, you can. Simply select the entire column or row by clicking on the column/row header, and then apply the strikethrough using any of the methods mentioned above.

Is there a way to automatically apply strikethrough to cells based on a condition?

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Yes, you can use Excel’s conditional formatting feature to automatically apply strikethrough to cells that meet a specific condition. Select the range, go to the Home tab, and choose New Rule from the Conditional Formatting drop-down. From there, you can set the condition and select the Strikethrough formatting option.

Can I use strikethrough with other formatting options like bold or italics?

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Absolutely! You can combine strikethrough with other formatting options to create more visually appealing and informative cells. Simply apply the strikethrough using one of the methods above, and then apply additional formatting using the Font group in the Home tab or the Format Cells dialog box.