Google Slides Strikethrough: Cross Out The Old And Spotlight The New

Ever wished you could just cross something out instead of deleting it? You know, like putting a big line through “boring idea” and replacing it with “brilliant plan”. That’s the magic of the Google Slides game with the strikethrough feature—it’s the ultimate way to say “this is done,” “this doesn’t matter anymore,” or “look how far we’ve come” without losing the original text. Think of it as the digital version of doodling a line through your notes—but way neater and presentation-ready.

The best part? Strikethrough isn’t just functional—it’s fun. You can use it to cross off completed tasks in a project update, show an old price before revealing a discount, or even add a cheeky twist to your storytelling. And guess what? Learning how to strikethrough on Google Slides is ridiculously simple. 

In this blog, we’ll walk you through exactly how to use strikethrough in your Google Slides presentation—step by step, with tips, tricks, and a few creative use cases you’ll want to try right away. By the end, you’ll be striking through text like a pro and giving your slides a little extra attitude.

What Is Strikethrough And Why Use Strikethrough In Google Slides?

Strikethrough is a formatting option that adds a horizontal line through your text. Instead of deleting words, it shows that the text is no longer active but still readable. Think of it as a way to “cross something off” while keeping it visible.

Why use strikethrough on Google Slides?

Here are some practical scenarios where it comes in handy:

• Editing and Collaboration
  • When you’re creating slides as a team, you might want to mark certain words or sentences as outdated.
  • Strikethrough keeps the original text visible so everyone understands what was changed.
• Tracking Progress
  • If you’re using a slide as a checklist (e.g., project tasks or goals), strikethrough is a great way to show completed items without removing them.
• Making a Point in Presentations
  • Sometimes, presenters use strikethrough for effect—for example, writing “Expensive” and then striking it out to replace it with “Affordable.”
  • It adds emphasis and can make your slide more engaging.

In short, strikethrough is not just a formatting tool—it’s also a visual communication aid in Google Slides.

What Are Common Scenarios For Using Strikethrough Google Slides?

Strikethrough is more than a mere stylish option; it’s a functional feature that provides added clarity and specificity to your presentations. With a simple highlight, you can apply strikethrough (either from the menu or via a keyboard shortcut), and it allows you to note updates and changes while preserving information, rather than eliminating it.

Here are some generally applicable scenarios with strikethrough:

• Task Management: You can use strikethrough to indicate completed tasks on a to-do list or project timeline. This way, your audience can easily see the progress being made and track changes on a timeline.
• Editing and Revision: If you’re working in a collaborative drafting process, using strikethrough during the editing process will allow a transparent view of what words, sentences, or entire ideas have been cut or replaced.
• Marketing/Sales: If you are creating a marketing or sales presentation, use strikethrough for notating previous pricing to sell the new current price.

For example, suppose you are managing a team project. By using strikethrough, you’ll be able to check on or “X-off” milestones you’ll create without erasing the documents, which provides everyone with true continuity and a view of the status of completed or discarded milestones and facilitates future decision-making.

How Does Strikethrough Improve The Visual Impact Of Your Presentation?

Strikethrough Is Not Just a way to indicate which words you don’t want to include in your slide; it can add to the design and visual communication of your message. When leveraging strikethrough effectively, it can be used to highlight differences, draw attention to content that has changed, and simply keep your audience engaged. 

Here are some of the benefits of using strikethrough Google Slides:

• Creates Emphasis: If you draw a line through a word or phrase and replace it, then the reader must notice the crossed-out area; this will add impact to the communicative message you wish to convey.
• Audience Engagement: Oftentimes, applying the strikethrough mark offers a more humorous approach to compare or tell a “before vs. after” story and keeps the presentation more interactive.
• Displays Clarity: This provides a quick way to demonstrate an edit or show progress or movement in your presentation, versus cramming your content with too much text.
• Enhances Storytelling: Use the strikethrough on the words “Old Price” to demonstrate a discount or mark-through “Plan A” to introduce “Plan B.” Together, these have an impact in enhancing your message.

Used thoughtfully, strikethrough helps your slides look professional while delivering a stronger message..

How To Strikethrough On Google Slides — Step-By-Step Guide

Applying Google Slides strikethrough is quick and simple, and you have two main methods to choose from: using the Format menu or applying a keyboard shortcut. Both approaches achieve the same result, so you can pick the one that fits your AI workflow best.

Using the Format Menu — step-by-step

• Open your slide and click the text box that contains the text you want to change.
• Select the text (click and drag, or double-click a word).
• At the top menu, click Format.
• Hover over Text in the dropdown to open the text options.
• Click Strikethrough. A horizontal line will appear through the selected text.
• To remove: re-select the struck text and repeat Format → Text → Strikethrough, or press Undo (Ctrl/Cmd + Z) immediately.

Quick variant — apply to the whole text box: Double-click the text box to enter edit mode → press Ctrl (or Cmd) + A to select all text inside → use Format → Text → Strikethrough.

Tip: Use the Format menu if you prefer a visual, menu-driven flow or if you only use strikethrough occasionally.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts — step-by-step

• Select the text you want to strike through.
  • Press the shortcut for your device:
    • Windows / Linux / Chromebook: Alt + Shift + 5
    • Mac: Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + X
• The strikethrough is applied instantly. Press the same strikethrough shortcut Google Slides again to remove it.
• To affect all text in a box: double-click the box → Ctrl/Cmd + A → use the shortcut.

Why use shortcuts: they’re faster for repeated edits and live editing — once you learn them, formatting becomes nearly instantaneous.

Quick Tips And Best Practices For Using Google Slides Strikethrough

• Use it for progress: Mark completed checklist items with strikethrough so your audience can see what’s done while keeping a record of past tasks.
• Use sparingly for emphasis: Striking through a single word and replacing it with another is a powerful way to show a “before → after” contrast.
• Combine with other cues: Since strikethrough is mainly visual, pair it with labels, colors, or highlights to ensure clarity and accessibility for all viewers.
• Preview when exporting: Most exports (such as to PowerPoint) keep strikethrough intact, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your slides after exporting.

Wrap It Up With A Strike

Strikethrough might initially seem like a small feature, but as you’ve seen in various tutorials, it can have a big impact on your presentations. From crossing off tasks to showing before-and-after changes, strikethrough is a fast way to add clarity, style, and just a little creativity to your slides. The best thing about strikethrough? Now that you know both the method using the menu and the shortcut using a keyboard, you can strikethrough your text within seconds.

So why don’t you try it in your next deck? Simply have some fun with it, try creative use cases, and see how clean and engaging your slides can look. And if you want to take it even further, check out our array of dynamic project plans and professionally designed Google Slides templates – designed to save you time and get your ideas soaring. Go ahead, strike through the boring and let your slides do the talking!

FAQs