- Use ⌘ + Shift + X to quickly apply or remove strikethrough.
- You can also apply strikethrough from the Format Cells dialog.
- Edit the cell first to strikethrough only part of the text.
- Macros can automate strikethrough for repeated tasks.
- Check shortcuts, cell formatting, and macros if strikethrough is not working.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Strikethrough in Excel for Mac Users
If you’re an Excel user on Mac, you’re aware of the countless formatting options at your fingertips. Among these, strikethrough carries a special significance. It’s a simple yet powerful way to indicate that something has been completed or should be disregarded without actually deleting it.
This visual cue is even more useful when you’re tracking changes or managing tasks in spreadsheets. Understanding how to quickly apply strikethrough formatting can significantly boost your productivity.
How to Apply Mac Strikethrough on Mac Excel
Using The Format Cells Dialog Box
STEP 1: Begin by selecting the target cell(s), then initiate the dialog box using either ‘Control + 1’ or a simple right-click and picking ‘Format Cells.’
STEP 2: Once you’re in, tap on the ‘Font’ tab, and you’ll spot the strikethrough checkbox.
STEP 3: After ticking the box, confirm with an ‘OK’.
STEP 4: Watch the strikethrough magic happen.
Keyboard Shortcut
Once you’ve selected the text or cells that need the strikethrough, press ⌘ + Shift + X, and just like that—your data is neatly crossed out.
It’s an immediate action that can save you a world of time, especially when you are neck-deep in spreadsheet tasks. Embracing this shortcut ensures your workflow remains smooth, letting you strike things out on the fly.
Advanced Techniques
Applying Partial Strikethrough
STEP 1: Click into the cell, then carefully highlight the specific text you want to cross out.
STEP 2: Next, press ⌘ + Shift + X, and just like that—your data is neatly crossed out.
Using Macros for Strikethrough Formatting
STEP 1: Go to the Developer Tab, and click on “Visual Basic”.
STEP 2: Locate ‘Insert’ in the menu bar, select ‘Module’ to unfold your scripting canvas, and etch the following spell:
Sub Strikethrough()</div> <div class="ql-code-block" data-language="plain">Selection.Font.Strikethrough = True</div> <div class="ql-code-block" data-language="plain">End Sub
STEP 3: Click on the Marcos button under the Developer Tab.
STEP 4: Select the Macro name “Strikethrough” and click “Run” to add a strikethrough to the text inside the selected cell.
STEP 5: Check the result.
Tips for Using Strikethrough in Excel
No matter if your device has an apple bitten out of it or has a window to the world, there are universal methods that can apply strikethrough formatting. Staying inside Excel’s ribbons, you can access the Format Cells dialog box universally by right-clicking your selected text and hunting for the Format Cells option or using the trusty ‘Control + 1’ (or ‘⌘ + 1’ on Mac).
Remarkably, even in the fast-paced world of shortcuts and swipes, some traditional methods refuse to go obsolete—like the enduring use of Format Cells dialog. This universal approach is the bridge over troubled platform waters, allowing you to row the same way on any device.
How to Remove Strikethrough Formatting
If your text in Excel for Mac is looking like it’s been through a paper shredder and you need to reverse that, fret not. Removing strikethrough is just as straightforward as applying it.
Again, select the cells where you want the formatting gone, then make your way back to the Format Cells dialog box through either ‘⌘ + 1’ or the right-click context menu. In the Font tab, simply uncheck the Strikethrough option. Once you click ‘OK,’ your text is as clean as if it had just come from the laundry—smooth and without a line out of place. Another way of removing strikethrough is by pressing the combination of ⌘+SHIFT+X keys.
Common Challenges
- Check the cell format if the strikethrough is not showing.
- Widen the column if the text looks cut off.
- Make sure the keyboard shortcut is not assigned to another action.
- Enable macros if your strikethrough macro is not working.
- Edit the cell first if you want to strikethrough only part of the text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct strikethrough shortcut for Excel on Mac?
Yes, a direct shortcut to apply strikethrough in Excel on Mac is ⌘ + Shift + X. Select the text or cells first before using this shortcut to instantly cross them out.
How can I add a strikethrough button to the Mac Excel toolbar?
To add a strikethrough button to the Mac Excel toolbar, customize your Quick Access Toolbar by clicking ‘Excel > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar’, choose the ‘Quick Access Toolbar’, then add Strikethrough from the list of commands.
Can I control strikethrough formatting with conditional formatting in Excel for Mac?
Absolutely, you can control strikethrough formatting with conditional formatting in Excel for Mac by creating a rule with a custom formula that applies the strikethrough based on your specified conditions.
What is the shortcut key for strikethrough?
The shortcut for strikethrough varies by program: in Google Sheets and Docs, it’s Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac), in MS Word and Outlook, open the Font dialog with Ctrl + D (Windows) or Command + D (Mac), and in Excel, it’s Ctrl + 5 (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac).
How to apply strikethrough via format options in Mac?
In Excel on Mac, to apply strikethrough via format options, select your text or cells and open the Format Cells dialog with ⌘ + 1. Click on the ‘Font’ tab, check the ‘Strikethrough’ option, and press ‘OK’ to apply.
John Michaloudis is a former accountant and finance analyst at General Electric, a Microsoft MVP since 2020, an Amazon #1 bestselling author of 4 Microsoft Excel books and teacher of Microsoft Excel & Office over at his flagship MyExcelOnline Academy Online Course.
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