Crossed-Out Text · Styles · Social Media · HTML
Crossed-Out Text — Complete Guide
Updated: May 2026
Crossed-out text — text with a horizontal line drawn through it — is used to indicate deletion, correction, irony, or stylistic emphasis. The right method to produce it depends on the context: web pages, plain text fields, social media bios, or chat messages each have different constraints.
Free · 5 styles · Works on all platforms · No account
Three methods to cross out text
Depending on where the text will appear, one of three methods is appropriate:
- HTML tags — for web pages that render HTML. Use
<del>for editorially deleted content and<s>for no-longer-accurate information. Both produce a visible strikethrough line styled by the browser. - CSS — for web elements. Apply
text-decoration: line-throughvia a stylesheet or inline style. More flexible than HTML tags for purely decorative strikethrough. - Unicode combining characters — for any plain text field. Insert U+0336 (combining long stroke overlay) after each character. Works in social media bios, chat messages, usernames, spreadsheets, and any Unicode-supporting application. No HTML required.
The generator on this page uses the Unicode combining character approach, which is the only method that works in plain text fields like social media posts and chat applications.
HTML strikethrough vs Unicode strikethrough
HTML's <del> and <s> elements are semantically meaningful. <del> signals that the content was removed (as in a document revision), and screen readers may announce it as deleted. <s> marks content that is no longer accurate without carrying the "deletion" semantic. Both are appropriate for web content where accessibility and machine readability matter.
Unicode combining characters carry no semantic information — they are a visual effect only. Screen readers typically read the text as plain text without indicating that it is struck. For purely decorative use in social media and informal contexts, this is fine. For documents where the struck meaning is functionally important (contracts, technical specifications, content changes), prefer HTML or an application with proper track-changes support.
Platform compatibility at a glance
| Platform | Unicode combining | Native markdown | HTML |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discord (messages) | ✓ Yes | ✓ ~~text~~ | ✗ No |
| Discord (username/bio) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Instagram (bio/caption) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Twitter / X | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| WhatsApp (messages) | ✓ Yes | ✓ ~text~ | ✗ No |
| WhatsApp (group name) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Facebook (posts/comments) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No | |
| TikTok (bio) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Slack (messages) | ✓ Yes | ✓ ~~text~~ | ✗ No |
| Web page (HTML) | ~ Partial | ✗ No | ✓ <s> / <del> |
| Google Docs | ✓ Yes | ~ Limited | ✗ No |
Five Unicode crossed-out styles
The generator offers five distinct visual styles, each using a different Unicode combining character or combination:
- Single line (U+0336) — the standard clean horizontal strikethrough. The most universally legible style. Use this as the default for any context.
- Double line (U+0336 + U+0335) — two overlapping horizontal lines. Heavier visual weight. Useful for emphasizing strong retraction or deletion.
- Slash-through (U+0338) — a diagonal line through each character. Creates a "prohibited" or "incorrect" visual signal without the horizontal strikethrough convention. Distinct and immediately recognizable.
- Dotted overlay (U+0307 + U+0336) — a dot above each character combined with a strike line. Unusual and highly creative; best for stylistic use rather than semantic correction.
- Wavy (U+0334) — a tilde-like wavy line through each character. Lighter and more decorative than a solid line. Font-dependent — some fonts render it very well, others produce a subtle effect.
Copy-paste examples
Ready-to-use crossed-out text for common social media scenarios. Copy any example below and paste it directly into your platform of choice.
- s̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ — for product availability updates
- o̶l̶d̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶c̶e̶ — for price comparison posts
- w̶r̶o̶n̶g̶ — for corrections and retractions
- b̶e̶f̶o̶r̶e̶ — for before/after content
- c̶a̶n̶c̶e̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ — for event cancellations or reschedules
For custom examples, use the full generator to cross out any text you need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between <del> and <s> in HTML?
<del> marks text as deleted from the document — it has editorial meaning (a revision removed this content). <s> marks text as no longer accurate or relevant without implying a formal deletion. Screen readers may handle them differently. For web content, choose based on semantic intent. For styling alone, use CSS text-decoration: line-through.
Can I use crossed-out text in a Google Doc?
Yes. Google Docs supports strikethrough via Format → Text → Strikethrough, or the keyboard shortcut Alt+Shift+5 (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+X (Mac). You can also paste Unicode combining-character text directly into a Google Doc and it will render with the strikethrough visible.
Does the crossed-out effect work in spreadsheets?
Yes for Excel (Format Cells → Font → Strikethrough checkbox) and Google Sheets (Format → Strikethrough). Pasting Unicode combining-character text also works but the combining characters render visually rather than as a true spreadsheet strikethrough format — they are part of the text string, not a cell format property.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for strikethrough?
In most rich-text applications: Alt+H+4 in Excel, Cmd+Shift+X in Google Docs (Mac) or Alt+Shift+5 (Windows), and Ctrl+Shift+X in Outlook. For plain text fields with no formatting shortcuts, the Unicode generator is the only option.