Adding strikethrough text in macOS Mail can help you clearly convey changes, corrections, or emphasize edits within your emails. Whether you’re editing a draft or replying to a message, applying strikethrough formatting makes your communication more professional and visually clear. This guide walks you through the simple steps to add strikethrough text, ensuring your messages look exactly how you want. Before starting, make sure your macOS Mail app is up to date to access the latest formatting features and that you have a message draft or reply open where you want to apply strikethrough formatting.
What You’ll Need
- A Mac computer running macOS with the Mail app installed
- An active email account configured in Mail
- An email draft or an existing email open for editing
Step-by-Step
- Open the Mail app on your Mac and navigate to the email you want to edit or compose a new email by clicking the “New Message” button.
- Type your message as usual. When you reach the text you want to apply strikethrough formatting to, highlight that specific portion by clicking and dragging your cursor over it.
- With the text highlighted, locate the formatting toolbar at the top of the message window. If you do not see the toolbar, click on the “Format” menu at the top of your screen and select “Show Format Bar” to make it visible.
- In the formatting toolbar, look for the “Aa” icon or the “Format” menu. Click on it to reveal formatting options, including bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough.
- Click on the “Strikethrough” button, which looks like a letter “S” with a line through it. If you do not see this option directly, click on the “Format” menu, then select “Font” or “Show Fonts” to open the font panel where strikethrough options are available.
- Alternatively, if you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, press Command + Shift + X after highlighting the text. This shortcut toggles strikethrough formatting on and off.
- The highlighted text will now display with a line through it, indicating the strikethrough formatting has been applied. You can continue editing or add more strikethrough text as needed.
- Once finished, compose the rest of your email and send it as usual. The recipient will see the text with the strikethrough formatting intact.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to highlight the text before applying formatting — the format only applies to selected text.
- Not enabling the formatting toolbar — ensure the toolbar is visible to access formatting options.
- Using incompatible keyboard shortcuts — Command + Shift + X is the standard for toggling strikethrough in macOS Mail.
- Applying strikethrough after sending the email — formatting must be applied before sending; it cannot be added after the email is sent.
- Assuming all email clients display formatting uniformly — some recipients may see plain text if their email client doesn’t support certain formatting.
Tips
- Use keyboard shortcuts for quick formatting: Command + Shift + X toggles strikethrough on and off.
- Combine formatting styles — you can add bold or italics alongside strikethrough for emphasis.
- Preview your email before sending to ensure the formatting appears as intended.
- Use consistent formatting styles throughout your email to maintain professionalism.
- If you need to remove strikethrough, simply highlight the text again and click the strikethrough button or press Command + Shift + X.
Troubleshooting
If applying strikethrough doesn’t work as expected, try these steps:
- Ensure your Mail app is up to date: Go to the App Store and check for updates to make sure you’re running the latest version with all formatting features.
- Check if the formatting toolbar is visible: If not, enable it via the “Format” menu by selecting “Show Format Bar.”
- Verify text selection: Make sure you’ve properly highlighted the text before attempting to apply strikethrough.
- Restart the Mail app: Sometimes, simply closing and reopening Mail can resolve minor glitches.
- Try keyboard shortcuts: Use Command + Shift + X to toggle strikethrough if clicking the button doesn’t work.
- Test with a new email: Create a new message to see if formatting works there, ruling out issues with a specific draft.
- Check recipient’s email client: Some email clients may not display formatting correctly, so verify how your email appears after sending.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I add multiple formatting styles, like bold and strikethrough, at the same time?
Yes, you can apply multiple styles by highlighting the text and selecting each formatting option sequentially or using keyboard shortcuts for each style.
2. Is strikethrough supported in all versions of macOS Mail?
No, strikethrough formatting is available in recent versions of macOS Mail. Make sure your system is updated to access this feature.
3. How do I remove strikethrough formatting from text?
Highlight the text with strikethrough, then click the strikethrough button again or press Command + Shift + X to toggle it off.
4. Will the recipient see the strikethrough formatting?
If their email client supports rich text formatting, they will see the strikethrough. If not, the text will appear as plain, with no formatting.
5. Can I apply strikethrough to an entire email automatically?
No, formatting must be applied manually to specific portions of text. There is no setting to automatically apply strikethrough to all email content.
6. Is there a way to save my email template with pre-applied strikethrough?
Yes, you can save a draft with the desired formatting and reuse it as a template for future emails.
Mastering strikethrough in macOS Mail enhances your email clarity and professionalism. With these straightforward steps and tips, you can easily incorporate this formatting to communicate more effectively.
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