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What is the keyboard key for strikethrough?

Published in Text Formatting 2 mins read

While there isn't a single, universal keyboard key dedicated solely to strikethrough like a direct "strike" button, you can apply strikethrough using a specific sequence of keyboard shortcuts, especially on a PC within applications such as Microsoft Word. This method involves accessing the font formatting options through a keyboard combination.

Applying Strikethrough with Keyboard Shortcuts on PC

To strike through text using your keyboard on a PC, particularly in word processing programs, you typically follow a multi-step process that opens the font formatting dialog box.

Here are the steps to apply strikethrough using keyboard shortcuts:

  1. Select the Text: First, highlight the text you wish to strike through using your mouse or keyboard (e.g., by holding Shift and using the arrow keys).
  2. Open the Font Dialog Box: Press Ctrl + D. This shortcut is commonly used in Microsoft Office applications to open the Font dialog box, where various text formatting options are available.
  3. Select the Strikethrough Feature: Once the Font dialog box appears, press Alt + K. This action will typically select the strikethrough option within the dialog box.
  4. Confirm and Apply: Finally, press Enter or click OK to apply the strikethrough effect to your selected text.

The process can be summarized in the table below:

Step Action Keyboard Shortcut (PC)
1 Select the desired text (Mouse or Shift + Arrows)
2 Open the Font dialog box Ctrl + D
3 Activate the Strikethrough option Alt + K
4 Apply changes Enter (or OK)

Understanding the Process

Unlike direct toggle shortcuts for bold (Ctrl + B), italic (Ctrl + I), or underline (Ctrl + U), strikethrough often requires accessing a deeper level of font formatting. The Ctrl + D shortcut provides a universal entry point to these advanced text properties on a PC, and Alt + K is a specific access key within that dialog for the strikethrough option. This method ensures precise control over the formatting.

For more information on applying strikethrough in various contexts, you can refer to resources like Adobe's guide on how to strikethrough in Word.