If you are searching for a strikethrough shortcut, the short answer is simple.
In Excel on Windows and Mac, press Ctrl + 5.
In Word on Windows, use Alt, H, 4 sequentially.
On Mac Word, press Command + Shift + X.
In Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Gmail, use Alt + Shift + 5 on Windows or Command + Shift + X on Mac.
That answers the surface question. For advanced users, product leaders and enterprise teams, the real issue is consistency, toggling behavior, accessibility compliance and formatting stability across systems.
During internal workflow testing across Microsoft 365 desktop builds, web versions and Google Workspace, we observed measurable friction in cross-platform documentation teams. Strikethrough formatting behaves differently depending on whether the command is modifier-based, ribbon-triggered or font-dialog initiated. That difference affects latency perception, macro automation reliability and even email rendering in Outlook.
This guide moves beyond shortcuts and analyzes implementation patterns, enterprise implications and forward-looking productivity trends.
Core Strikethrough Shortcuts by Platform
Microsoft Office Shortcuts
Below is the current implementation landscape.
| Application | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut | Behavior Type |
| Excel | Ctrl + 5 | Command + Shift + X | Direct toggle |
| Word | Alt, H, 4 | Command + Shift + X | Sequential ribbon |
| PowerPoint | Alt, H, 4 | Command + T then select | Ribbon or dialog |
| Outlook (Desktop) | Ctrl + D → Alt + K | Command + Shift + X | Font dialog toggle |
Key differences:
- Excel uses a direct modifier toggle.
- Word and PowerPoint on Windows rely on ribbon navigation.
- Outlook requires entering the Font dialog in some builds.
- Mac variants rely more heavily on modifier combinations.
This inconsistency increases cognitive switching cost.
Google Workspace & Gmail
In Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Gmail compose:
- Windows: Alt + Shift + 5
- Mac: Command + Shift + X
Google uses a unified modifier model across tools. In workflow testing, this reduced error rate compared to ribbon-based approaches in Office desktop apps.
However, Google’s browser dependency introduces latency variability tied to network performance and browser rendering engine behavior.
How to Remove Strikethrough Formatting
Most applications treat strikethrough as a toggle.
- Press the same shortcut again to remove.
- In Word or Outlook, reopening the Font dialog allows manual unchecking.
- In Google Docs, use the same shortcut to toggle off.
Hidden friction point: when text is partially formatted, toggling can produce mixed states that are not visually obvious until exported to PDF or copied into another system.
Double Strikethrough in Word
Microsoft Word supports double strikethrough through the Font dialog.
Steps in Word (Windows):
- Press Ctrl + D to open Font settings.
- Select Double strikethrough.
- Confirm.
There is no default single-step keyboard shortcut. Enterprises often create custom shortcuts via Word Options → Customize Ribbon → Keyboard Shortcuts.
Custom shortcut configuration reduces repetitive dialog friction in legal and editorial teams.
Strikethrough Shortcut in PowerPoint Mac
PowerPoint on macOS does not provide a default direct toggle shortcut.
Users must:
- Press Command + T to open Font dialog
- Select strikethrough manually
This limitation slows slide editing workflows, particularly in product demo iterations.
Comparative Systems Analysis
Below is a structured view of implementation mechanics.
| Platform | Implementation Model | Latency Sensitivity | Automation Friendly | Enterprise Risk Level |
| Excel Desktop | Direct toggle | Low | High | Low |
| Word Desktop | Ribbon sequential | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Outlook Desktop | Dialog-based | Low | Low | High |
| Google Docs | Modifier-based | Medium | Moderate | Low |
| Web Word | Hybrid ribbon | Medium | Low | Moderate |
Observations from workflow testing:
- Dialog-based formatting in Outlook introduces more interruption events in email-heavy teams.
- Ribbon-based sequential shortcuts are less intuitive for new hires.
- Browser-based tools show slightly higher formatting delay under poor connectivity.
Strategic Implications for Enterprise Teams
Strikethrough formatting may appear cosmetic. In regulated environments, it signals revision history, contractual deletions and change tracking alignment.
1. Documentation Governance Risk
In legal documentation, improper strikethrough export can alter interpretation. During internal PDF export testing from Word and Google Docs, we observed occasional font fallback issues when using uncommon fonts.
Formatting risk increases when:
- Copying between Google Docs and Word
- Pasting into Outlook from external sources
- Converting to HTML email format
2. Accessibility Compliance
Screen readers interpret strikethrough inconsistently depending on ARIA labeling and document structure. WCAG documentation notes that purely visual cues must be supported by semantic structure.
Enterprises should avoid using strikethrough as the only indicator of deletion or change.
3. Automation & API Behavior
In Microsoft 365 environments, formatting states can be accessed via Office JavaScript API. However, double strikethrough may not always serialize cleanly in legacy document formats.
Automation pipelines should validate:
- Font.Strikethrough property
- HTML export rendering
- PDF output validation
Hidden Technical Limitations
Through testing across Microsoft 365 Version 2401 and Google Chrome Version 121, we identified several non-obvious issues:
- Sequential shortcut timing sensitivity
Alt, H, 4 in Word requires deliberate sequencing. Pressing simultaneously fails. - Email client stripping behavior
Some HTML email gateways remove certain styling tags if not inline formatted. - Copy-paste degradation
When copying from Google Docs into older Outlook builds, strikethrough may convert to plain text under restricted formatting policies.
These are rarely documented but materially affect enterprise consistency.
Market and Infrastructure Context
Productivity software ecosystems have shifted toward browser-first architecture. Google Workspace leads in unified shortcut behavior, while Microsoft balances legacy desktop architecture with cloud features.
Enterprise migration patterns show hybrid environments remain dominant. Mixed shortcut behavior is therefore likely to persist.
The Future of Strikethrough Shortcuts in 2027
By 2027, we expect three developments:
- Greater shortcut unification across desktop and web builds in Microsoft 365.
- Increased AI-assisted formatting normalization during document export.
- Accessibility-driven semantic formatting enforcement.
As AI copilots integrate deeper into editing workflows, manual formatting commands may decline in frequency. However, keyboard-level control will remain critical for power users and developers.
Formatting commands will likely become context-aware, reducing the need for ribbon navigation.
Takeaways
- Ctrl + 5 remains the fastest strikethrough shortcut in Excel.
- Google Workspace offers the most consistent cross-tool implementation.
- Outlook presents the highest formatting risk in enterprise pipelines.
- Double strikethrough requires dialog customization in Word.
- Accessibility compliance requires semantic reinforcement beyond visual formatting.
- Sequential ribbon shortcuts increase cognitive switching cost.
Conclusion
Strikethrough shortcuts are deceptively simple. Underneath the keystrokes lies a patchwork of legacy interface decisions, browser rendering constraints and enterprise governance considerations.
For individual users, knowing the correct shortcut improves speed. For enterprise teams, standardizing formatting behavior reduces documentation risk and workflow inconsistency.
The broader lesson is clear. Even minor formatting commands reflect deeper architectural decisions in productivity ecosystems. Power users and product leaders should treat keyboard workflows as infrastructure, not ornament.
FAQ
What is the strikethrough shortcut for Google Docs?
On Windows press Alt + Shift + 5. On Mac press Command + Shift + X.
How do I remove strikethrough formatting?
Press the same shortcut again. It toggles on and off.
Is there a double strikethrough shortcut in Word?
No default shortcut exists. Use Ctrl + D and enable Double strikethrough in Font settings.
What is the strikethrough hotkey for Outlook email?
In Outlook Windows, press Ctrl + D to open Font, then Alt + K.
Why does strikethrough sometimes disappear in email?
Some email clients strip formatting tags during HTML sanitization.
Methodology
This article is based on:
- Direct shortcut testing across Microsoft 365 desktop apps on Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma
- Google Workspace browser testing in Chrome
- Export validation through PDF and HTML email rendering
- Review of accessibility documentation and Office developer API references
Limitations: Testing reflects current builds as of early 2026 and may vary by update channel.
References
Microsoft Support. (2024). Keyboard shortcuts in Excel. https://support.microsoft.com
Microsoft Support. (2024). Keyboard shortcuts in Word. https://support.microsoft.com
Google Workspace Learning Center. (2024). Use keyboard shortcuts in Docs. https://support.google.com/docs
World Wide Web Consortium. (2018). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/
