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Strikethrough

Strikethrough is a typographical effect in which a horizontal line is drawn through the middle of text characters to visually indicate deletion, correction, or content that is no longer relevant or accurate. The practice dates back to medieval production, where scribes used strikethroughs—often in red or blue ink—to mark errors for correction without fully erasing the text, preserving the original for reference or due to the difficulty of scraping . For instance, in the 13th-century Abbey Bible, omitted verses were indicated with colorful strikethrough lines alongside insertions using carets. This method evolved into a standard symbol in print , where a single horizontal line through text denotes material to be removed, contrasting with other marks like underlines for insertions or circles for changes. In the digital era, strikethrough has become a ubiquitous text formatting option in word processors, such as (via Alt + H + 4 shortcut) and (via Alt+Shift+5), facilitating collaborative editing by showing revisions without permanent deletion. In , HTML provides the <s> element for rendering strikethrough to signify outdated information, while the <del> element specifically marks deleted content in versioned documents; both are supported across modern browsers. Additionally, markup languages like use double tildes (text) to apply strikethrough, enhancing readability in platforms such as or forums. At the character level, standardizes strikethrough through the combining diacritical mark U+0336 (COMBINING LONG STROKE OVERLAY), allowing cross-platform application by overlaying a line on individual letters, which connects seamlessly across adjacent characters. Beyond editing, strikethrough serves stylistic purposes, such as humorously noting changes in informal writing or emphasizing irony in social media, though its primary role remains in professional proofreading and document revision to maintain transparency and auditability.

Overview

Definition

Strikethrough is a typographical technique that applies a horizontal line through the center of text characters to signify deletion, cancellation, or ironic emphasis while preserving the original content for reference. This method allows editors and readers to see both the intended correction and the prior version, facilitating transparency in revisions without complete erasure. Visually, strikethrough differs from other text formats such as underline, which positions a line beneath the of letters, or bold, which thickens the strokes for prominence; instead, it overlays a straight or slightly oblique line at the approximate midline of the characters, effectively "crossing out" the text. For instance, in , the phrase "This is strikethrough text" appears unmodified, whereas "This is strikethrough text" renders with the horizontal line through "strikethrough," highlighting the alteration. The term "strikethrough" derives from the phrasal verb "strike through," evoking the manual act of drawing a line across text in handwriting or early printing processes to mark it as obsolete. Its origins trace back to scribal practices in medieval manuscripts, where such lines indicated textual corrections.

History

The practice of strikethrough, a horizontal line drawn through text to indicate deletion or cancellation, originated in medieval scribal traditions as a method for marking errors in manuscripts. Scribes on parchment would employ various deletion techniques, including punctum delens—dots, small crosses, underlining, or strikethrough lines—to signal text for removal without fully erasing it, preserving legibility for potential review or correction. This approach allowed for efficient editing while maintaining the integrity of the original material, often using colored inks for emphasis in illuminated manuscripts. In the 19th century, as printing industrialized, strikethrough evolved into a standard proofreading mark applied to galley proofs, where a looped line through text (known as the "dele" mark) denoted material to be deleted. This adaptation of scribal deletion methods ensured accuracy in the mechanical reproduction of texts, marking a shift from manual erasure to systematic typographic oversight. In the 19th and 20th centuries, strikethrough gained widespread use in professional fields such as journalism and legal documentation, influenced by the rise of typewriters. Typewriters enabled practical corrections through overtyping or dedicated mechanisms like correction tape, while manual strikethrough with pen became common for marking changes in newsroom editing and contract amendments. In legal contexts, redlining practices—originating from manual markup with red ink—formalized strikethrough for tracking changes in drafts, often with added notations for validation. This era solidified strikethrough as a tool for transparency in iterative document revision. The 21st-century digital shift transformed strikethrough into a software-rendered feature in word processors and , enabling precise, non-destructive editing. Early applications like incorporated it as a font attribute, evolving from print-era habits to track changes functionalities. Concurrently, publications such as Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest (2022) have documented its historical role in U.S. for , tracing typographic uses of deletion lines in graphics from the 1800s to contemporary digital expressions of dissent.

Uses

Editing and Correction

In traditional editing and proofreading, strikethrough serves as a standard method to indicate deletions in manuscripts, drafts, and typeset pages, allowing editors to mark errors or unwanted content for removal while preserving the original text for reference and review. This approach avoids complete erasure, enabling authors and collaborators to track the evolution of the document and understand the rationale behind changes, which is particularly valuable in fields like and legal revisions where edit history must be auditable. For instance, in manuscript preparation, a horizontal line is drawn through the text to signal its excision, often accompanied by a marginal note such as "delete" to clarify the instruction. In collaborative digital environments, strikethrough is integral to features like Microsoft Word's Track Changes, where it denotes deleted text, displaying it with a strikethrough line—typically in red and attributed to the specific editor—alongside timestamps for accountability. This functionality ensures that revisions are visible without disrupting the document's flow, facilitating efficient review in professional settings such as academic papers or legal documents. Insertions, by contrast, are commonly underlined or highlighted in a different color, creating a clear visual distinction that highlights the full scope of edits. Proofreading systems like those outlined in integrate strikethrough as a core symbol for content removal in final versions, differentiating it from other marks such as underlining for insertions or carets for additions, thereby streamlining the transition from draft to publication. In legal and regulatory contexts, this practice is similarly employed to amend documents, with strikethrough applied to excised clauses while maintaining the unaltered original for verification, as seen in protocols for statutes. Such standardized use underscores strikethrough's role in maintaining and precision during revision processes.

Communication and Emphasis

In digital communication, strikethrough serves as a pragmatic tool to convey and humor, particularly on platforms like (now X) and , where it highlights irony or without fully erasing the original text. For instance, a user might write "I'm totally fine exhausted" to ironically underscore emotional fatigue, a convention that gained traction in the as text-based platforms evolved to support such formatting. This usage aligns with Gricean principles, where the visible "deletion" implies a contradictory or humorous intent, fostering nuanced expression in informal online interactions. Beyond outright humor, strikethrough provides emphasis without deletion, allowing writers to signal contradictions, second thoughts, or evolving ideas in personal writing such as blogs and emails. By crossing out a phrase while leaving it readable, it adds tonal nuance, such as reconsidering a statement mid-sentence to reveal internal conflict or mild correction, thereby enriching the rhetorical depth of the message. This technique draws on politeness strategies from pragmatics, balancing directness with indirectness to maintain conversational flow. In group chats and collaborative platforms like wikis or , strikethrough functions as an informal track change mechanism, indicating edits, jokes, or tentative revisions without removing content, which promotes playful banter and shared understanding among participants. This preserves the conversation's history while signaling humor or adjustment, as seen in messaging where users cross out words to "correct" themselves lightheartedly. The cultural adoption of strikethrough in memes and online discourse surged post-2000s, coinciding with the proliferation of markdown-enabled platforms, evolving from niche web uses to widespread rhetorical devices in environments like servers and captions for ironic commentary or viral humor. This shift reflects broader trends in digital , where formatting compensates for absent nonverbal cues to build and express layered meanings.

Commercial and Symbolic Applications

In , strikethrough formatting is commonly employed to highlight discounts by displaying the original price crossed out alongside the reduced price, such as $100 $70 on platforms like , which visually signals value and creates a sense of urgency for consumers. This reference pricing strategy leverages the contrast between the higher "regular" price and the sale price to enhance the perception of savings. A of 345 observations from 20 studies found that presenting a regular price as an external reference marginally significantly increases perceived savings (β = 0.110, p < 0.10), particularly for plausible large deals, though the effect diminishes with very high discount percentages. Beyond commerce, strikethrough serves symbolic purposes in graphic design and typography for activism and protest, where crossed-out text visually represents resistance, censorship, or the rejection of oppressive narratives. For instance, in posters and ephemera, words like "genocide" or institutional slogans are struck through to protest historical injustices, as seen in 19th- to 21st-century U.S. examples including suffragette banners, civil rights materials, and contemporary anti-racism graphics. This usage is prominently explored in the 2022 exhibition "Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest" at , which curated over 120 items to illustrate how typographic strikethrough amplifies dissent in movements for voting rights, labor strikes, and social justice. In programming documentation, strikethrough denotes deprecated functions or APIs, marking them as outdated while preserving their visibility for historical reference and migration guidance, such as oldFunction() in code examples. This convention alerts developers to avoid using the element in new code without fully removing it, maintaining continuity in evolving software ecosystems. Official documentation, like Angular's API references, explicitly uses strikethrough to indicate deprecated features, ensuring users recognize shifts in supported functionality. Strikethrough also appears in literature and art as a non-literal symbol of repression, revision, or internal conflict, where crossed-out text reveals suppressed thoughts or edited narratives without erasing them entirely. In artistic contexts, this technique evokes the tension between expression and censorship, as in protest ephemera where struck-through phrases challenge dominant ideologies, distinct from mere deletion by retaining legibility for interpretive impact.

Technical Representations

Typography and Document Software

In traditional print typography, strikethrough was achieved through manual typesetting techniques, such as placing thin horizontal rules or overlays across composed text to simulate a crossing line, a method rooted in earlier practices like those seen in medieval manuscripts where text was struck out for corrections. Modern digital typography has integrated built-in support for strikethrough in design software, exemplified by , where users select text and apply the feature via the Character panel, allowing customization of line weight, offset from the baseline, style type, color, and tint for precise rendering. The evolution from manual overstrike methods on typewriters in the mid-20th century—where corrections involved typing a line over erroneous text—to graphical user interface (GUI) formatting in the 1980s marked a significant shift, with software like WordPerfect introducing dedicated strikeout attributes compatible with emerging laser printers for cleaner, non-overlapping deletions. In contemporary word processors, strikethrough is applied via keystroke shortcuts or menus; for instance, in Microsoft Word, users can open the Font dialog with Ctrl+D, select the text, and check the Strikethrough option to toggle a single horizontal line through the characters for visibility without obscuring readability. This feature integrates with stylesheets, enabling consistent application across documents through character or paragraph styles that define the line's attributes, such as single or double lines, while preserving the underlying text for editing. Document standards like PDF and DOCX ensure strikethrough preservation across platforms. In PDF format, strikethrough can be embedded as a text markup, as implemented in tools like Adobe Acrobat for cross-document compatibility. Similarly, the DOCX format, based on OOXML, uses the <w:strike> element to specify single-line strikethrough on run-level content, allowing variations in line thickness and color via associated styling, while a separate <w:dstrike> element handles double strikethrough for enhanced markup needs. These standards facilitate seamless transfer of formatted documents, maintaining the strikethrough's visual and semantic integrity during export or import.

Web and Markup Languages

In web development, strikethrough text is commonly implemented using HTML elements that convey semantic meaning or visual styling. The <s> element renders text with a horizontal line through it, indicating content that is no longer relevant or accurate, such as outdated information. The deprecated <strike> element similarly applies a strikethrough but is obsolete in modern HTML standards, though browsers continue to support it for . For marking deletions in documents, the <del> element is preferred, which typically renders as strikethrough and supports a datetime attribute to specify when the deletion occurred, enhancing semantic precision in versioned content. CSS provides flexible control over strikethrough appearance through the text-decoration shorthand property, where line-through sets the line type, and additional values like color or thickness can be specified (e.g., text-decoration: line-through [red](/page/Red) solid 2px;). This approach allows customization of line style via text-decoration-style (e.g., , wavy, or ) and thickness via text-decoration-thickness, overriding default browser rendering and ensuring consistency across elements. For older browsers like , vendor-specific properties such as -ms-text-decoration may be needed, though standards have minimized such requirements. In lightweight markup languages, strikethrough is achieved through simple delimiters. uses double tildes to enclose text (e.g., ~~strikethrough~~), which renders as strikethrough in processors like Flavored Markdown. Similarly, implements strikethrough via the ulem package, where \sout{text} draws a line through the content after including \usepackage{ulem} in the preamble. Browser support for these features is universal in modern environments, with the <s> and <del> elements fully compatible since across major browsers like (version 1), (version 1), and (version 1). For accessibility, ARIA roles such as role="deletion" can be applied to custom strikethrough implementations, informing screen readers that is marked as removed, especially when elements are unavailable.

Unicode Encoding

In Unicode, strikethrough is primarily achieved through combining diacritical marks that overlay a horizontal stroke on base characters. The key character for this is U+0336 COMBINING LONG STROKE OVERLAY, introduced in Unicode 1.1, which applies a continuous horizontal line across one or more preceding characters, such as in the sequence for "A̶" (U+0041 followed by U+0336). This mark is designed to connect on the left and right when multiple are applied sequentially, facilitating unbroken strikethrough over words or phrases, though its rendering depends on font support for proper joining. Limitations arise in font rendering, where inconsistent glyph positioning can result in discontinuous lines or gaps, particularly in variable-width fonts or across complex scripts. For specific precomposed characters incorporating strikethrough, includes dedicated glyphs in certain blocks, such as U+1D7A LATIN SMALL LETTER TH WITH STRIKETHROUGH in the block (added in Unicode 4.1). This represents the voiceless interdental with an obligatory through the , distinguishing it from diagonal variants and avoiding reliance on combining marks. Mathematical contexts may use related overlays like U+0335 COMBINING SHORT OVERLAY for shorter, non-connecting strikes on symbols, or U+0338 COMBINING LONG OVERLAY for slash-like effects, though these are not true horizontal strikethroughs. Support for strikethrough in and symbols expanded with 6.0 (2010), enabling combining overlays on base characters for crossed-out effects in messaging applications, such as applying U+0336 to regional indicator symbols (U+1F1E6–U+1F1FF) to denote negated or canceled flags (e.g., a struck-through ). However, this remains non-standardized for full text sequences in , relying on platform-specific rendering. issues persist due to variable support across devices and fonts; older systems or limited implementations may fail to display combining overlays correctly, leading to fallback mechanisms like CSS text-decoration: line-through in web contexts for consistent rendering.

Variants and Alternatives

Multiple Strikethroughs

Double strikethrough consists of two parallel horizontal lines drawn through text, serving as a variation of the single-line strikethrough for heightened visual emphasis. In some professional contexts, it may indicate changes in wording. Extensions to triple or more strikethrough lines are less standardized but appear in stylistic applications within and technical documentation to convey escalating levels of or rejection. These multiple-line variants amplify the deletion signal, often used where single or double lines might not sufficiently underscore the text's irrelevance. In , multiple lines can be approximated by text-decoration properties, though precise control varies by support. In , multiple strikethroughs are typically rendered by repeatedly applying the U+0336 (COMBINING LONG STROKE OVERLAY) to each base character, allowing for stacked lines without dedicated code points for doubles or triples. However, this method faces rendering challenges, as font engines may cause overlaps or misalignments when stacking multiple overlays, particularly in variable-width fonts or across different platforms. While uncommon in daily communication, multiple strikethrough variants find niche use in fields requiring precise notation of revisions, such as drafting or specialized diagramming, where they help track iterative changes without fully erasing content.

Substitute Symbols

In informal and constrained environments where standard strikethrough formatting is unavailable, symbols such as the letter X or a forward slash (/) are employed as substitutes to indicate cancellation or deletion of text. The letter X is frequently used in handwritten notes and checklists to cross out text for quick cancellation, serving as a visual indicator of completion or invalidation. This practice extends to historical systems, where an X has been associated with marking ballots, including to void or negate selections. In environments, such as emails or programming interfaces without rich formatting, a forward slash can be used in specific contexts, for example, in handwriting conventions, a forward slash is commonly drawn through the digit 7 to distinguish it from the number 1, preventing misreading in mathematical or numerical contexts. Additionally, provides slashthrough effects using combining characters like U+0337 (COMBINING SHORT SOLIDUS OVERLAY) or U+0338 (COMBINING LONG SLASH OVERLAY) to approximate diagonal strikethrough on individual characters. These substitute symbols are particularly advantageous in informal notes or constrained settings, where they enable rapid without additional software; however, their diagonal or intersecting nature often leads to less precise rendering and potential issues in dense text, unlike the uniform horizontal line of strikethrough.

Research and Implications

Cognitive and Perceptual Studies

Research in has examined the perceptual processing of strikethrough text, revealing that such formatting introduces visual complexity that can increase during reading. For instance, users with cognitive disabilities may face heightened processing demands when interpreting the significance of crossed-out content, as it requires additional mental effort to discern intent without disrupting overall text flow. General studies on text formatting indicate that modifications can alter eye movements and allocation, potentially slowing reading speed by drawing focus to marked elements, though specific quantitative impacts vary by context. In educational settings, strikethrough serves as a for highlighting errors in written , aiding and learning by contrasting incorrect and corrected versions without complete erasure. A study on computer-mediated in English as a (EFL) writing classes found that using track changes—which employs strikethrough for deletions—significantly improved learners' writing accuracy compared to traditional marginal methods. Participants receiving strikethrough-based demonstrated greater uptake of , fostering deeper understanding of grammatical and structural errors through visible revision traces. This approach supports retention by encouraging learners to mentally note the rationale behind changes, enhancing long-term skill development. Behavioral economics research highlights strikethrough's role in pricing psychology, where it influences by signaling discounts and perceived . In a theoretical model supported by empirical , firms use strikethrough prices to convey product quality, particularly when costs decline over time, such as in markets. By displaying a higher past crossed out alongside the current lower , sellers separate high-quality offerings from low-quality ones, as consumers infer superior from the implied reduction; this reduces and boosts purchase intent when prior beliefs about quality are low. The strategy proves effective in high-cost-decline scenarios, leading to higher demand for signaled products without incentivizing low-quality . Despite these benefits, overuse of strikethrough can create visual clutter, impairing document clarity and overall readability. Usability studies on display clutter demonstrate that excessive formatting elements disrupt in the , particularly in visual pathways, resulting in reduced and increased cognitive strain. Researchers emphasize to maintain , as dense visual modifications hinder efficient scanning and interpretation.

Accessibility and Usability

Screen readers provide varying levels of support for strikethrough text, particularly when implemented using elements like <del>, which indicates deleted or struck-through content. Popular screen readers such as NVDA and typically announce <del> as "deleted text," enabling visually impaired users to understand the semantic intent without relying on visual cues. However, support is inconsistent across tools; for instance, on may not always verbalize the strikethrough, potentially leading to missed context. Additionally, using Unicode combining characters to achieve strikethrough can cause misreads in screen readers, as these diacritical marks are often ignored or fragmented, disrupting the flow for users. Usability guidelines emphasize ensuring strikethrough enhances rather than hinders comprehension, especially for users with low vision. The (WCAG) 2.1 require a minimum of 4.5:1 for text and images of text, which applies to ensure readability of strikethrough-formatted content. Experts recommend avoiding strikethrough for critical information, as it can confuse users with low vision who may overlook or misinterpret the crossed-out content amid visual noise. Instead, pairing it with textual descriptions, per WCAG Technique G117, conveys the same information programmatically to support diverse assistive needs. In handwritten document analysis, particularly for historical archives, optical character recognition (OCR) and AI systems face challenges in detecting and processing struck-out words, which can obscure writer identification and content restoration. A 2021 study introduced algorithms for generating synthetic handwritten text with realistic strikethrough simulations to train models, improving detection accuracy in degraded manuscripts by up to 15% through techniques. Cleaning algorithms, such as those using image inpainting and stroke removal, enable better writer identification in archives by isolating underlying text; for example, a combining convolutional neural networks with morphological operations successfully restored struck-out segments in 19th-century documents, aiding paleographic . Modern implications for strikethrough accessibility extend to apps and AI-assisted , where post-2020 standards prioritize intuitive interactions. In interfaces, touch-friendly toggles for applying strikethrough—such as targets meeting the minimum 24x24 CSS pixels size with clear haptic feedback—comply with WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.5.8 for reducing errors among users with motor impairments during tasks. Evolving standards since 2020, including WCAG 2.2's emphasis on adaptive content, guide AI-assisted tools to automatically generate accessible alternatives, like verbal announcements of strikethrough changes in real-time collaboration apps, ensuring compliance for dynamically generated documents.