Free writing tool
Strikethrough text generator for cross out and underline
Paste a line, copy the struck or underlined version, paste it back. Read the table first: several apps have a real strikethrough, and the real one is always better.
On keeps the line continuous across words. Turn it off if a space shows a stray dash where you paste.
StrikethroughU+0336 long stroke overlay
s̶t̶r̶i̶k̶e̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶t̶e̶x̶t̶
Short strikeU+0335 short stroke overlay
s̵t̵r̵i̵k̵e̵t̵h̵r̵o̵u̵g̵h̵ ̵t̵e̵x̵t̵
SlashedU+0338 long solidus overlay
s̸t̸r̸i̸k̸e̸t̸h̸r̸o̸u̸g̸h̸ ̸t̸e̸x̸t̸
UnderlineU+0332 low line
s̲t̲r̲i̲k̲e̲t̲h̲r̲o̲u̲g̲h̲ ̲t̲e̲x̲t̲
Double underlineU+0333 double low line
s̳t̳r̳i̳k̳e̳t̳h̳r̳o̳u̳g̳h̳ ̳t̳e̳x̳t̳
Wavy underlineU+0330 tilde below
s̰t̰r̰ḭk̰ḛt̰h̰r̰o̰ṵg̰h̰ ̰t̰ḛx̰t̰
OverlineU+0305 overline
s̅t̅r̅i̅k̅e̅t̅h̅r̅o̅u̅g̅h̅ ̅t̅e̅x̅t̅
Strike + underlineU+0336 then U+0332
s̶̲t̶̲r̶̲i̶̲k̶̲e̶̲t̶̲h̶̲r̶̲o̶̲u̶̲g̶̲h̶̲ ̶̲t̶̲e̶̲x̶̲t̶̲
Where you don't need this
| Platform | Syntax | How |
|---|---|---|
| Discord | ~~text~~ | Markdown, renders on send |
| Slack | ~text~ | Single tilde, or the format bar |
~text~ | Single tilde, or long-press to format | |
~~text~~ | Markdown mode, or the toolbar in the rich editor | |
| Telegram | ~~text~~ | In Markdown mode, or select the text and pick Strikethrough |
| Notion, Google Docs | – | Strikethrough button in the toolbar |
| LinkedIn, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Facebook | – | No native strikethrough. This tool is for those. |
Generated in your browser. These are combining marks stacked on ordinary letters, not formatting: a screen reader reads the marks aloud or skips the word, and search on any platform will not match a struck word against its plain spelling. Use it where the look is the point, never for anything a reader has to find or retype.
How a strikethrough gets into a plain-text field
LinkedIn, X and Instagram store a post as plain characters with no formatting attached, which is why there is no strikethrough button. The trick, used by every tool in this category, is a combining character called the long stroke overlay. Placed after a letter, it tells the renderer to draw a line through that letter, and placing it after every letter in turn produces a line through the word.
The stroke is applied to the spaces as well as the letters, so the line runs unbroken across a phrase instead of stopping at every word. That is what people expect from a strikethrough, and it is also a toggle above in case a destination handles struck spaces badly.
Where you do not need this
Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Reddit and Telegram all have a native strikethrough: wrap the text in tildes and the app formats it. Notion, Google Docs and every word processor have a button. Native formatting is real formatting. It is searchable, a screen reader announces it as deleted text, and copying it out gives the next person the plain words.
The characters from this tool do none of that, so use them only where nothing better exists: LinkedIn, X, Threads, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
The “was $99, now $49” trap
The classic use of a strikethrough is a price cut, and it is the case where the cost is highest. A screen reader either reads the struck price as digits with no indication that it is old, or skips it, and a reader who cannot see the line has no way to tell which number is current. Put the current price in plain text and the old one struck, never the other way round, or write “was $99” in words.
- Search does not match a struck word to its plain spelling.
- Some fonts draw the stroke slightly high or low, so a long struck passage can look broken on one device and fine on another.
- Underlined text reads as a link to most people. Use it for emphasis only where a link would be impossible.
- Never strike a handle, a code or anything a reader must retype.