As a frequent user of Excel, you may be looking for ways to streamline your tasks and make your work faster and more efficient. One way to achieve this is by using keyboard shortcuts instead of clicking through menus and tabs. In this article, we’ll focus on one particular shortcut: font strikethrough.
What is Font Strikethrough?
Font strikethrough is a text formatting feature that puts a horizontal line through the middle of your selected text. This is often used to indicate that the text has been deleted or is no longer relevant. In Excel, you can use font strikethrough to cross out completed tasks, mark items for deletion, or highlight changes in data.
Why Use a Keyboard Shortcut?
While you can access font strikethrough through the Excel Ribbon, it can be time-consuming to navigate to the correct tab and menu. By using a keyboard shortcut, you can apply font strikethrough with just a few clicks, saving you time and improving your productivity. Additionally, using keyboard shortcuts can help reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries by minimizing mouse usage.
How to Use the Font Strikethrough Shortcut
To use the font strikethrough shortcut, follow these steps:
- Select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply strikethrough to.
- Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
- Press the 5 key on your keyboard’s number pad (not the main number keys).
- Release both keys. The selected text will now have a strikethrough line through it.
Alternatively, you can use the Ribbon to apply font strikethrough:
- Select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply strikethrough to.
- Navigate to the Home tab on the Excel Ribbon.
- Click on the Font group to expand it.
- Click on the Strikethrough button to apply it to your selected text.
Customizing the Shortcut Key
If you find that the default shortcut key for font strikethrough doesn’t suit your needs or preferences, you can customize it. Here’s how:
- Navigate to the File tab on the Excel Ribbon.
- Click on Options at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
- Select Customize Ribbon from the options on the left-hand side of the Excel Options dialog box.
- Click on the Customize button next to the “Keyboard shortcuts” label.
- In the “Customize Keyboard” dialog box, select the “Home Tab” option from the “Categories” list.
- Scroll down the “Commands” list to find “Strikethrough” and select it.
- In the “Press new shortcut key” field, press the key or key combination that you want to use as the new shortcut.
- Click Assign to save your new shortcut key.
- Click Close to close the “Customize Keyboard” dialog box.
- Click OK to close the Excel Options dialog box.
Using Strikethrough with Conditional Formatting
Conditional formatting is a powerful Excel feature that allows you to change the appearance of cells based on certain criteria. By combining font strikethrough with conditional formatting, you can create dynamic, visually appealing spreadsheets. Here’s an example:
- Select the range of cells that you want to apply conditional formatting to.
- Navigate to the Home tab on the Excel Ribbon.
- Click on the Conditional Formatting button in the Styles group.
- Select New Rule from the dropdown menu.
- In the “New Formatting Rule” dialog box, select Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
- In the “Format values where this formula is true” field, enter a formula that will evaluate to TRUE for the cells that you want to apply strikethrough to. For example, if you want to cross out completed tasks, you could use a formula like =IF(A2=”Done”,TRUE,FALSE).
- Click on the Format button to open the “Format Cells” dialog box.
- Select the Font tab.
- Check the Strikethrough box.
- Click OK to close the “Format Cells” dialog box.
- Click OK to close the “New Formatting Rule” dialog box.
Conclusion
Using keyboard shortcuts like font strikethrough can help you work more efficiently in Excel, saving you time and reducing the risk of injury. By customizing your shortcut keys and combining features like font strikethrough with conditional formatting, you can create powerful, customized spreadsheets that meet your specific needs. Give it a try and see how it can improve your productivity!
