Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Changing Strikethrough Lines.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 10, 2018)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 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.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (344) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Changing Strikethrough Lines.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
Need to adjust how your characters look horizontally? Word provides an easy way you can scale the horizontal appearance ...
Discover MoreWhen you create a document (such as a letterhead) that you want multiple people to use, you need to be concerned with ...
Discover MoreIf you need to remove any explicit character formatting from some text, you'll want to commit the shortcut in this tip to ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Comments