Ever found yourself needing to show something's been updated, corrected, or is no longer relevant in your Google Slides presentation? That's where the humble strikethrough comes in. It's a simple yet powerful tool that can add clarity, track changes, or even inject a bit of humor into your slides.
Think about it: you're presenting a project timeline, and a task is completed. Crossing it out visually signals its completion. Or perhaps you're showing a price change – the old price, struck through, makes the new, lower price pop. It’s a visual cue that says, "This is what it was, but now it's this." It’s incredibly useful for editing, too. When collaborating, striking out text clearly indicates what needs revision or removal, making the feedback process much smoother.
So, how do you actually do it? It's surprisingly straightforward.
The Easy Way: Using the Format Menu
- Select the text you want to strikethrough. You can highlight a single word, a phrase, or even an entire paragraph.
- Head up to the Format menu.
- Navigate to Text.
- Click on Strikethrough.
And just like that, a line appears right through your selected text. It’s that simple!
The Speedy Way: Keyboard Shortcuts
If you're someone who loves efficiency, you'll appreciate the keyboard shortcuts. They can really speed up your workflow, especially if you're applying strikethrough to multiple elements.
- On Windows or Linux: Press Alt + Shift + 5.
- On Mac: Press Command + Shift + X.
Again, make sure you've selected the text first before hitting those keys.
Undoing the Strikethrough
Made a mistake, or changed your mind? No worries. To remove the strikethrough, simply select the text again and repeat the process: go to Format > Text > Strikethrough, or use the same keyboard shortcut you used to apply it. The line will disappear, returning your text to its original state.
Customizing Your Strikethrough
While the default strikethrough is a clean line, you can also get a bit more creative. You can change the color of the text before you apply the strikethrough, which can make the crossed-out text stand out even more. For instance, if you're highlighting areas to be omitted, making that text red and then striking it through can be very impactful. This level of customization helps ensure your message is not just seen, but understood clearly.
Whether you're tracking changes, highlighting discounts, or just making a point, mastering the strikethrough in Google Slides is a small skill that can make a big difference in the clarity and professionalism of your presentations.
