How to Put a Line Through Text in Excel: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet software that offers a wide range of tools for data manipulation and analysis. One of the tasks that users often need to perform is to strikethrough text, which can be useful for highlighting important information or indicating that data has been deleted or invalidated.

In this article, we will provide detailed instructions on how to put a line through text in Excel using various methods. We will cover both the built-in strikethrough feature and alternative techniques using the Font menu and keyboard shortcuts. Whether you are a novice or an experienced Excel user, this guide will help you master this essential formatting skill.

Using the Strikethrough Button

The strikethrough button is the most straightforward method to put a line through text in Excel. Here are the steps:

1. Select the text or cell you want to strikethrough.
2. Go to the “Home” tab on the ribbon.
3. Locate the “Font” group and click on the “Strikethrough” button (S with a line).

The text will immediately appear with a strikethrough line.

Using the Font Menu

You can also use the Font menu to apply a strikethrough to text:

1. Select the text or cell you want to strikethrough.
2. Right-click on the selection and choose “Font” from the context menu.
3. In the “Font” window, go to the “Effects” tab.
4. Check the “Strikethrough” box.
5. Click “OK” to apply the strikethrough.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

There are two keyboard shortcuts that you can use to strikethrough text in Excel:

• Ctrl + 5: Applies strikethrough to the selected text. This is the quickest method.
• Alt + H + 7: Opens the “Font” window where you can select the strikethrough option.

Applying Conditional Formatting for Strikethrough

Conditional formatting can be used to apply strikethrough to text based on specific criteria. For example, you could strikethrough all cells that contain negative values.

1. Select the range of cells where you want to apply the strikethrough.
2. Go to the “Home” tab on the ribbon.
3. Click on the “Conditional Formatting” drop-down menu and select “New Rule”.
4. In the “New Formatting Rule” window, choose “Use a formula to determine which cells to format.”
5. Enter the following formula in the “Format values where this formula is true:” field: =A1<0
6. Click “Format”.
7. In the “Format Cells” window, go to the “Font” tab.
8. Check the “Strikethrough” box.
9. Click “OK” to apply the formatting rule.

The cells that meet the specified criteria (negative values in this example) will now be strikethrough.

Removing Strikethrough

To remove the strikethrough formatting from text, simply follow the same steps as outlined above and uncheck the “Strikethrough” option in the Font menu or Conditional Formatting window.

FAQ

How do I put a line through text in Excel 2007?

The strikethrough feature is available in Excel 2007 and later versions. Follow the steps outlined above for your specific Excel version.

How do I strikethrough only a portion of a cell’s text?

You cannot strikethrough only a portion of a cell’s text in Excel. The formatting applies to the entire cell content.

How do I put a line through a column in Excel?

You can select an entire column and apply the strikethrough formatting using the button, Font menu, or keyboard shortcuts.

How do I remove strikethrough from multiple cells at once?

Select all the cells with strikethrough formatting and uncheck the “Strikethrough” option in the Font menu or Conditional Formatting window.

Why is the strikethrough button not working in Excel?

Make sure that the text you are trying to strikethrough is not in a cell that is protected or formatted as read-only. Also, check that Excel is up-to-date and that you have the necessary permissions to edit the spreadsheet.

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