How to use the strikethrough text generator
- Type or paste your text into the input box.
- Choose between the standard long stroke or the short stroke style.
- The strikethrough text appears instantly as you type.
- Click or tap the output area to select it, then copy and paste it wherever you need.
How Unicode strikethrough works
Unlike HTML or rich text editors that apply a visual style, this tool uses Unicode combining characters. A combining character attaches itself to the preceding letter without taking up extra horizontal space. The standard option uses U+0336 (COMBINING LONG STROKE OVERLAY) and the short option uses U+0335 (COMBINING SHORT STROKE OVERLAY).
For example, the letter "A" followed by U+0336 renders as A̶. Because these are real Unicode code points rather than formatting instructions, they survive plain text transfers. You can paste the result into Twitter, Instagram bios, WhatsApp messages, SMS or any other platform that accepts Unicode text.
Common uses for crossed out text
Crossed out text serves several practical purposes beyond simple decoration:
- Pricing and sales: Show an old price next to a new one, such as ~~$50~~ $30, even on platforms that lack rich text support.
- Corrections: Leave the original mistake visible while showing the fix, a technique borrowed from proofreading marks.
- Humor and tone: Imply a hidden thought or sarcasm by striking through what you supposedly did not mean to say.
- To do lists: Mark tasks as complete in plain text notes where no checkbox widget exists.
Platform compatibility
Most modern operating systems and browsers render combining characters correctly. However, results can vary depending on the font being used. Some fonts position the strike line too high or too low relative to the base character, which may look uneven on certain devices.
On older systems or very constrained environments like basic feature phones, the combining character might appear as a separate box or question mark instead of overlaying the letter. If you notice rendering issues, try switching between the long and short stroke options to see which displays better on your target platform.
Strikethrough vs HTML and Markdown
If you are writing for the web, you have native options. In HTML, wrap your content in <del> tags. In Markdown, many parsers support double tildes: ~~deleted~~. These methods rely on the rendering engine to draw the line.
The advantage of this strikethrough text generator is portability. HTML tags and Markdown syntax only work inside applications that parse them. Unicode combining characters work everywhere plain text is accepted, making them the right choice for social media posts, usernames, chat messages and file names.
Worked examples
Each result below was produced by the same code the tool runs, so you can check your own numbers against them.
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | Your text: $99.99 now $49.99; Strike style: combining | $̶9̶9̶.̶9̶9̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶$̶4̶9̶.̶9̶9̶ |
| Corrected word | Your text: teh the; Strike style: combining | t̶e̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ |
| Task done | Your text: Buy groceries; Strike style: short | B̵u̵y̵ ̵g̵r̵o̵c̵e̵r̵i̵e̵s̵ |
FAQ
Will this strikethrough text work on Instagram and Twitter?
Yes. Because the output uses standard Unicode characters rather than formatting codes, it works on any platform that supports Unicode text, including all major social networks.
What is the difference between the two strike styles?
The standard style uses a longer combining stroke (U+0336) that typically extends further across the character. The short style uses U+0335, which produces a narrower line. Depending on your device font, one may look cleaner than the other.
Can screen readers read crossed out text?
Screen reader behavior varies. Some will announce each combining character individually, which makes the audio output difficult to understand. Use Unicode strikethrough sparingly if accessibility is a priority.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. The conversion happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you type is transmitted anywhere.
Why does the line look misaligned on some letters?
Combining characters depend on the font metrics of the base character. Fonts with unusual proportions or very wide glyphs may cause the strike line to appear off center.
Can I remove the strikethrough later?
To undo the effect, you would need to strip the combining characters. Pasting the text back into this tool will not reverse it, but you can use a find and replace utility to remove U+0336 or U+0335 code points.