Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 27, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Cindy asked if there is a way to "type over" words with a different character. In particular, she wanted to "x" out some characters. She doesn't want to do a strikethrough, but actually use the "x" character to type over characters already in the document.
The best way to do this in Word is to use EQ field with the \o (overtype) switch. Follow these steps:
eq \o(my text,xxxxxxx)
This field approach works great for short text selections, and you could always convert it into a macro if you have lots of text you want to affect in this manner. The following macro carries this concept even further—it displays the overtype x characters in red, and it doesn't overtype spaces:
Sub OverstrikeWithX2() Dim i As Integer MyString = Selection.Text ' Insertion point only/single character/multiple character range handler If Selection.Characters.Count = 1 Then Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend If Selection.Characters.Count = 2 Then Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=2, Extend:=wdExtend Else Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 End If Else Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 End If ' end range handler For i = 1 To Len(MyString) Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend ' paragraph marker and space handler If Selection.Text = Chr(13) Or Selection.Text = " " Then While Selection.Text = Chr(13) Or Selection.Text = " " If i = Len(MyString) Then Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 Exit Sub Else i = i + 1 Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1, _ Extend:=wdExtend End If Wend End If ' end paragraph marker & space handler With Selection .Fields.Add Range:=Selection.Range, Type:=wdFieldEmpty, _ PreserveFormatting:=False .TypeText Text:="eq \o(" .MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 .TypeText Text:=",x)" .Delete Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 ' The next three lines turns the overstike "x" red .MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 .MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend .Font.Color = wdColorRed .Fields.ToggleShowCodes .MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 End With Next i End Sub
The macro adds a single field for each character being overtyped, and is therefore appropriate for text of almost any length.
There is also an entirely different approach you may want to try, this time using text boxes. Create a text box using the Drawing toolbar. Inside of the text box, type as many x characters as desired in the font and size desired. Make sure the text box is formatted so it has no fill (which makes it transparent), has no surrounding line, and floats over text with no text wrapping. Drag the text box over the text to be x-ed out, and size as necessary.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (3921) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!
A quick little shortcut can help you easily step through different font sizes for whatever text you've selected. Word ...
Discover MoreText boxes are a common design element for some documents. If you want a text box to contain multiple columns, you are ...
Discover MoreBeginning with Word 2000, you can rotate a page of text by using the Far East language support built into Word. This tip ...
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.
Comments