1. Easy Guide: Cross Out Text in Outlook

1. Easy Guide: Cross Out Text in Outlook

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1. Easy Guide: Cross Out Text in Outlook
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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to cross out text in an email you were sending? Perhaps you made a mistake and wanted to make the correction obvious, or maybe you wanted to emphasize something by striking it through. Whatever the reason, Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to cross out text.

Crossing out text can be useful in a variety of situations. For example, you could use it to indicate that a task has been completed or to show that a certain piece of information is no longer relevant. You could also use it to add emphasis to a particular word or phrase. In addition, crossing out text can help to create a more visually appealing email. Furthermore, it can help to make your emails easier to read and understand.

There are two main ways to cross out text in Outlook. The first method is to use the strikethrough formatting option. To do this, simply select the text you want to cross out and then click the strikethrough button on the formatting toolbar. The second method is to use the keyboard shortcut. To do this, simply press Ctrl + Shift + D. No matter which method you choose, crossing out text in Outlook is a quick and easy way to make your emails more effective. Finally, crossing out text can be a helpful way to communicate your message clearly and concisely.

Keyboard Shortcut for Text Strikethrough

To cross out text in Outlook using a keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Select the text you want to cross out. You can use your mouse to highlight the text, or you can use the keyboard shortcut **Ctrl+A** to select all text in the email.

2. Press the **Ctrl** + **T** keys simultaneously. This will cross out the selected text. The keyboard shortcut works in Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, and Outlook on the web.

Keyboard Shortcut Function
Ctrl+T Crosses out the selected text

Note: The keyboard shortcut for crossing out text may not work if you have custom keyboard settings enabled. To check your keyboard settings, go to the **File** tab, click **Options**, and then click **Customize Ribbon**. In the **Customize Ribbon** dialog box, click the **Keyboard Shortcuts** tab. In the **Category** list, select **All Commands**. In the **Commands** list, scroll down and select **Strikethrough**. The **Current Key** field will show the current keyboard shortcut for crossing out text. If the **Current Key** field is empty, the keyboard shortcut is not assigned.

Using the Font Dialog Box

To cross out text using the Font dialog box, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight the text you want to cross out.
  2. Click the “Format” tab in the ribbon menu.
  3. In the “Font” group, click the “Strikethrough” icon.
    Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + 5 (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac).

Customizing Strikethrough Appearance

The Font dialog box also allows you to customize the appearance of the strikethrough line:

  • Color: Select a custom color for the strikethrough line from the “Font Color” dropdown.
  • Weight: Adjust the thickness of the strikethrough line by selecting a weight from the “Strikethrough Style” dropdown (e.g., “Single,” “Double,” or “Thick”).
Weight Appearance
Single ──────────
Double ══════════
Thick ██████████

Strikethrough Button in the Mini Toolbar

The mini toolbar is displayed when you highlight text. It contains a Strikethrough button that allows you to cross out text quickly

To cross out text using the mini toolbar:

  1. Highlight the text you want to cross out.
  2. The mini toolbar will appear above the selected text.
  3. Click the strikethrough button (S) on the mini toolbar.

The text will be crossed out with a single line.

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to cross out text.

To cross out text using a keyboard shortcut:

  1. Highlight the text you want to cross out.
  2. Press Ctrl + T (Windows)
  3. The text will be crossed out with a single line.

Applying Strikethrough to a Hyperlink

To apply strikethrough to a hyperlink, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight the hyperlink.
  2. Right-click and select Link.
  3. In the “Edit Hyperlink” dialog box, check the “Strikethrough” box.
  4. Click on the OK button.

The hyperlink will be crossed out with a single line.

Removing Strikethrough

To remove strikethrough, simply repeat the steps outlined in the previous methods but uncheck the Strikethrough option

Cross Out Text with HTML Code

To cross out text using HTML code, you can use the <del> tag. This tag will draw a single strikethrough line across the enclosed text. For example, the following code will cross out the text “This text is crossed out”:


<del>This text is crossed out</del>

The <del> tag can also be used to create a strikethrough effect on other elements, such as links or images. For example, the following code will cross out a link:


<a href="https://example.com"><del>This is a link</del></a>

Styling Strikethrough Text

There also are three CSS Properties that can be applied to strikethrough text to allow for additional control. All three properties have default values and do not need to be included in the code unless otherwise desired.

CSS Property Description Default Value
text-decoration-line This property defines the strikethrough style line-through
text-decoration-thickness This property defines the the thickness of the strikethrough line auto
text-decoration-style This property determines whether the horizontal line is solid, dashed, dotted, double, wavy, or blink (not supported by all browsers) solid

Conditional Formatting for Crossed-Out Text

Outlook allows you to create rules for conditional formatting, which can be used to apply a strikethrough to text that meets certain conditions. To create a conditional formatting rule for crossed-out text:

1. Select the cells or range of cells you want to format.
2. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Conditional Formatting.
3. Point to New Rule, and then click Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
4. In the Formula box, enter the formula to identify the cells that will have strikethrough. For example, to strikethrough text that contains the word “expired,” you would enter the formula:

=FIND("expired",A2)>0

5. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the Strikethrough option and click OK.

Property Description
Font Specifies the font family, size, and color of the text.
Border Specifies the style, color, and thickness of the border around the text.
Fill Specifies the color or pattern of the background behind the text.
Alignment Specifies the horizontal and vertical alignment of the text within the cell.
Protection Specifies whether the cell is locked and cannot be edited.

6. Click OK to apply the conditional formatting rule.

Now, any text that meets the specified condition will be automatically crossed out. You can create multiple conditional formatting rules to apply different formatting to different types of text.

Utilizing VBA Macros for Automated Crossing Out

For those seeking a tailored and automated approach to crossing out text, VBA macros provide an ideal solution. Macros are programmable sequences of actions that can be executed within Outlook, enabling you to automate tasks and streamline your workflow.

Here’s how to implement VBA macros for automated text crossing out:

  1. Open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor within Outlook.
  2. Select the “Insert” menu and click “Module”.
  3. Paste the following code into the module window:


    4. Sub CrossOutText()
    Dim rng As Range
    For Each rng In Selection
    rng.Font.Strikethrough = True
    Next rng
    End Sub

  4. Assign a shortcut key to the macro by selecting “Tools” > “Customize”, navigating to the “Keyboard” tab, and assigning a keystroke to the macro.
  5. Highlight the text you want to cross out.
  6. Execute the macro by pressing the assigned shortcut key or by selecting the macro from the “View” > “Macros” menu.
Keystroke Action
Ctrl+D Opens the “Font” dialog box
Ctrl+K Inserts a hyperlink
Ctrl+P Opens the “Print” dialog box

By utilizing VBA macros, you gain the ability to cross out text quickly and consistently with minimal effort. Macros offer a robust and customizable solution for automating repetitive tasks within Outlook, enhancing your productivity and streamlining your email communication.

Outlook Rules for Automatic Text Strikethrough

Outlook rules provide a powerful way to automate tasks and manage emails, making your workflow more efficient. One useful application of Outlook rules is to cross out text automatically, which can be particularly helpful when dealing with sensitive information or when you need to mark content as completed.

Creating a strikethrough rule in Outlook

To create a strikethrough rule, follow these steps:
1. Open Outlook and navigate to the “Rules” tab.
2. Click on “Create Rule” and select “Apply rule on messages I receive.”
3. In the “Conditions” section, select the criteria that will trigger the rule, such as “from a specific sender” or “with specific keywords.”
4. In the “Actions” section, check the box for “strikethrough text.”
5. Specify the text you want to strikethrough in the “Text” field.
6. Click “OK” to save the rule.

Advanced strikethrough options

In addition to basic strikethrough, Outlook rules offer several advanced options for more fine-tuned control:

  1. Font: You can select the font style and size for the strikethrough text.
  2. Color: Choose a custom color for the strikethrough line.
  3. Only strikethrough specific text: Specify a specific word or phrase to trigger the strikethrough, leaving the rest of the text unaffected.

Adding Strikethrough to Signatures

To cross out text in your Outlook signature, follow these steps:

1. In Outlook, click on the “File” tab.
2. Click on “Options.”
3. Click on “Mail” in the left-hand menu.
4. Scroll down to the “Signatures” section.
5. Select the signature you want to edit and click on the “Edit” button.
6. In the “Edit Signature” dialog box, place the cursor in the text of the signature where you want to add a strikethrough.
8. Click on the “Strikethrough” button in the “Font” group on the “Home” tab of the ribbon. The button looks like an “S” with a line through it.
9. The selected text will be crossed out with a strikethrough.
9. Click on the “OK” button to save your changes.

Cross Out Text in Outlook Mobile App

Whether you’re on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, crossing out text in your Outlook mobile app is a quick and easy way to highlight important information or draw attention to corrections. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open the Outlook app on your mobile device.
  2. Compose a new message, or open an existing one that you want to edit.
  3. Highlight the text you want to strikethrough.
  4. Tap the "Formatting" options at the bottom of the screen.
  5. Select the "Strikethrough" option.
  6. The selected text will now have a line through it.

Additional Tips for Crossing Out Text in Outlook Mobile App:

  • Undo Strikethrough: To undo the strikethrough formatting, simply repeat the steps 3-5.
  • Use Keyboard Shortcut: On iOS devices, you can also use the keyboard shortcut “Command + Shift + X” to strikethrough text.
  • Combine with Other Formatting: You can combine strikethrough with other text formatting options, such as bold, italic, or underline, to create custom text effects.
  • Use Strikethrough Highlight: In the Outlook mobile app, you can also use the “Strikethrough Highlight” option to add a colored strikethrough to your text. This is useful for emphasizing important corrections or notes.
  • Strikethrough Multiple Lines: If you want to strikethrough multiple lines of text, simply highlight the entire text block and apply the strikethrough formatting.
  • Strikethrough in Tables: To strikethrough text in a table cell, highlight the cell and then tap the “Formatting” options. Select the “Strikethrough” option as usual.
  • Strikethrough in Lists: If you have a list of items and want to strikethrough one or more of them, tap the bullet or number next to the item and then follow the steps to apply strikethrough.
  • Strikethrough in Signatures: You can also strikethrough text in your email signature. To do this, go to “Settings” > “Signature” and edit your signature as usual. Highlight the text you want to strikethrough and apply the “Strikethrough” option.
  • Strikethrough in Reply or Forward: When replying or forwarding an email, you can strikethrough text in the original message by highlighting it and applying the strikethrough formatting.

How to Cross Out Text in Outlook

Tips for Optimal Strikethrough Usage

Strikethrough is a useful tool for emphasizing deleted or canceled text, but it can also be used creatively to highlight certain words or phrases.

1. Use Strikethrough Sparingly

Using strikethrough too often can make your text difficult to read. Limit your use of strikethrough to the most important points you want to emphasize.

2. Don’t Strikethrough Headings

Strikethrough should not be used for headings or subheadings. This can make your text confusing and difficult to navigate.

3. Use Strikethrough to Emphasize Deleted Text

Strikethrough is a great way to clearly indicate deleted text. This can be useful when you’re revising a document or when you want to show that something has been removed.

4. Use Strikethrough to Highlight Changes

Strikethrough can be used to highlight changes that have been made to a document. This can be helpful when you’re reviewing changes with a colleague or when you want to track revisions.

5. Use Strikethrough to Create a To-Do List

Strikethrough can be used to create a to-do list. Simply create a list of items, and then strikethrough the items as you complete them.

6. Use Strikethrough for Emphasis

Strikethrough can be used to emphasize certain words or phrases. This can be helpful for drawing attention to key points or for making certain words stand out.

7. Use Strikethrough to Create a Signature

Strikethrough can be used to create a signature for your emails or documents. This can help to make your signature more visually appealing and to differentiate it from the rest of your text.

8. Use Strikethrough to Create a Table

Strikethrough can be used to create a simple table. To do this, simply insert vertical and horizontal lines of strikethrough text.

9. Use Strikethrough to Create a Grid

Strikethrough can be used to create a grid. To do this, simply insert a series of horizontal and vertical lines of strikethrough text.

10. Use Strikethrough to Add Creative Flair

Strikethrough can be used to add a touch of creative flair to your text. For example, you can use strikethrough to create borders, boxes, or other decorative elements. You can also use strikethrough to create ASCII art.

How to Cross Out Text in Outlook

Microsoft Outlook offers several ways that you can cross out text within an email message. This guide will cover the methods available, including using the strikethrough formatting option and the more advanced method involving HTML code.

Using Strikethrough Formatting

This is the most straightforward method and is available in both Outlook desktop and web versions.

  1. Highlight the text you want to cross out.
  2. Click the “Strikethrough” button in the formatting toolbar. It appears as a lowercase “S” with a horizontal line through it.

The selected text will be crossed out.

Using HTML Code

This method requires you to use HTML code within your email. It can be more customized, allowing for different strikethrough colors and styles.

  1. Select the text you want to cross out.
  2. Click the “HTML” tab in the ribbon menu.
  3. Enclose the selected text within the following HTML tags, replacing #XXXXXX with the desired strikethrough color in hexadecimal format: TEXT.

For example: Strikethrough

People Also Ask About How to Cross Out Text in Outlook

Can I cross out text in Outlook for Mac?

Yes, the method for crossing out text in Outlook for Mac is similar to that in Outlook for Windows. Use either the Strikethrough formatting option or the HTML code method.

How do I remove strikethrough from text in Outlook?

To remove strikethrough from text in Outlook, simply re-select the crossed-out text and click the “Strikethrough” button again to toggle it off.