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Apply a single or double strikethrough effect to any text
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Do you want to cross out text in an Outlook email? If you're using the Outlook desktop app on Windows or Mac, you can use the "ab" icon on the Format Text menu to strike through any selected words or sentences. If you're using Outlook.com in your web browser, you'll find the strikethrough option in the three-dot menu at the bottom of your editing space. Here's how to strikethrough in Outlook for desktop or Outlook on the web.

Strikethrough Text in Microsoft Outlook

  • To strikethrough on Outlook for desktop, highlight your text, go to Format Text, and click the "ab" icon.
  • To apply a double strikethrough, highlight your text, right-click the selection, and click Font > Double strikethrough.
  • To strikethrough on the Outlook website, select the text, then click > Strikethrough.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using the Desktop App

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  1. Click the icon that looks like an "O" on a piece of paper next to an envelope to open the application. Press Ctrl + N (Windows) or Cmd + N (Mac) to create a new email or click an email and click Reply to reply to a message.
  2. Use your mouse to select the text you want to be crossed out.
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  3. It's in the editing ribbon above your editing space.
  4. This icon looks like "ab" with a line through it. If you don't see this icon, maximize the window.[1]
    • To remove strikethrough, select the text again, then click the Strikethrough "ab" icon.
    • You can also undo any format changes you've made by pressing Ctrl + Z (Windows) and Cmd + Z (Mac).
  5. If you want two lines to go through your text instead of one, you can click the tiny More icon in the toolbar (it looks like an arrow pointing outside a corner) to expand the Font panel, where you can then check the box next to "Double strikethrough."[2]
    • Once you click OK, the selected text will have the double strikethrough effect.
    • You can also right-click the highlighted text and choose Font > Double strikethrough and click OK.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using the Web App

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  1. Go to www.outlook.com and sign in. Outlook's web app only offers the single strikethrough option instead of the single and double strikethroughs in the desktop app.
  2. Click New Message to start a new email or click an existing email to open it, then click the Reply arrow to send a message back to the sender.
  3. Use your mouse to select text that you want to strikethrough.
  4. You'll see this horizontal three-dot menu at the bottom of your editing space, to the right of "X2" icon.
    • If you don't see this, click Format Text in the top toolbar first.
  5. This looks like "abc" with a line through it.
    • Your selected text will appear with a strikethrough.
    • To remove the strikethrough, click the three-dot menu icon again and select the Strikethrough button.
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Tips

  • While there is no shortcut to applying strikethrough to text with a keyboard shortcut, you can strikethrough text easily using Gmail and Google Docs by pressing Alt + Shift + 5.
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About This Article

Rain Kengly
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain is a tech writer and editor for wikiHow with over 5 years of professional writing experience. In the past, Rain has worked with other creative writers as a Writing Tutor at San Francisco State University and has published gaming features, guides, and news articles for a variety of media outlets. Rain shares a lifelong passion for writing and gaming and is eager to grow alongside new tech inventions. This article has been viewed 166,439 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: March 16, 2026
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Categories: Microsoft Office
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