Changing Strikethrough Lines

Summary: When you apply the strikethrough attribute to text, a single line appears horizontally through the text. If you want to change the appearance of that line, your options are very limited. This tip explains why this is the case and discusses a simple workaround. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003.)

You can format text using attributes such as bold, italic, underline, etc. You can also format text so that it is "struck through," which puts a thin horizontal line through the text. (Similar to using a pen and crossing through the text.) If you use strikethrough text a lot, you may wonder if there is a way to change the attributes of the strikethrough line itself, such as changing its weight or color.

It does not appear that there is any way in Word to change the attributes of a strikethrough line. Those attributes mirror the attributes of the text that is being struck through. For instance, if you change the font color of the text, then the color of the strikethrough line changes, as well.

If you want a different type of strikethrough, you can use a workaround, such as to use the drawing tools in Word to actually draw a line through the text. You can then change the attributes of the drawn line to whatever you desire.

Tip #344 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Changing Strikethrough Lines