Strikethrough Text Generator - Cross Out Text Online

What Is a Strikethrough Text Generator?

A strikethrough text generator applies a horizontal line through the middle of each character using Unicode combining diacritical marks. The result is t̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶s̶ ̶c̶r̶o̶s̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ — and it copies, pastes, and renders that way in any app that displays Unicode text, including Instagram, Twitter, Discord, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most messaging platforms.

This is different from the strikethrough formatting option in word processors or rich-text editors. HTML uses <s> tags, and Google Docs uses a menu option. Neither of those travels with the text when you copy it into a plain-text field on a social platform. Unicode strikethrough does travel — the combining character is attached to each letter at the character level, so the visual effect persists wherever the text goes.

Try the Font Style Generator to apply strikethrough to your text instantly.

How Unicode Strikethrough Works

The Unicode combining character U+0336 (Combining Long Stroke Overlay) is placed after each letter in your input. When a text renderer encounters a combining character, it applies that mark to the preceding base character. The result appears as a line drawn through the center of every letter, number, or symbol in your text.

Because this technique stacks a combining mark onto each character individually, it works across the full alphabet, all digits, and most punctuation. A sentence with strikethrough applied letter by letter looks like every single character is crossed out, not just a line drawn across the whole word in a single pass.

Where Strikethrough Text Is Used

Social media humor and irony — Crossed-out text is a widely understood signal that you are "correcting" yourself or contradicting something for comic effect. A tweet reading "I definitely d̶i̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ eat the last slice" lands a visual joke that straight text cannot.

Showing revisions in posts — Some creators use strikethrough to show a change of mind or update an older statement within the same post, mimicking the editorial tradition of visible corrections.

Discord and gaming communities — Strikethrough text in usernames, server announcements, and channel topics is a common stylistic choice in ironic or humorous community cultures.

Instagram captions — The crossed-out effect creates visual contrast in long captions, drawing the eye to the "correction" and making the post more dynamic to read.

Meme captions and creative posts — Strikethrough is a core visual element in many meme formats and carries a specific tone of self-aware humor.

Tumblr and creative writing communities — Authors use strikethrough for in-character edits, anxious narrator voice, and interactive fiction devices.

Strikethrough vs. Native Platform Formatting

Several platforms offer their own strikethrough formatting, but it only works within that platform's editor. Here is how they compare:

• Discord — Wrapping text in ~~double tildes~~ applies strikethrough natively. The Unicode method produces an identical visual result and also works in username fields where markdown is not supported.
• WhatsApp — Wrapping text in ~tildes~ applies strikethrough natively in message bubbles. Unicode strikethrough works in display names and status messages where markdown is not parsed.
• Twitter / X — Has no native strikethrough option. Unicode combining characters are the only way to cross out text in a tweet.
• Instagram — Has no native strikethrough. Unicode is the only option.
• Facebook — No native strikethrough in post body text. Unicode is the only option.

Using Strikethrough for Emphasis and Tone

Strikethrough communicates something native bold and italic cannot: retraction, irony, or an admission caught mid-thought. It is a tone device as much as a visual one. Used well:

• Keep the "crossed out" portion short. A word or short phrase lands harder than a whole paragraph struck through.
• Follow strikethrough with the "real" statement to complete the joke or correction.
• Use it sparingly. When every other sentence is crossed out, the effect loses meaning.
• Consider your audience. Strikethrough humor is culturally specific to internet-native communities. It may not land in all contexts.

Compatibility Across Platforms

Unicode combining strikethrough is broadly supported:

• Modern smartphones and computers render it correctly in virtually all apps.
• Some older devices or text renderers may show the combining character as a separate symbol rather than overlaying it correctly.
• Search engines do not interpret combining-character strikethrough as the HTML <s> element. For web content, use proper HTML or CSS.
• Screen readers handle combining characters inconsistently. Some read only the base characters; others read out the combining marks. For accessibility-sensitive content, use platform-native formatting or HTML.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the strikethrough in Google Docs or Word? No. Document editors use formatting codes that do not copy to plain-text fields. Unicode combining characters are actual text characters that copy and paste everywhere. Use this generator for social media; use your document editor's built-in option for word-processed content.

Can I apply strikethrough to numbers and punctuation? Yes. The combining character attaches to any base character, so digits, punctuation marks, and symbols all receive the strikethrough line.

Why does my crossed-out text look slightly different in different apps? Font rendering varies between platforms. The combining overlay is applied at the correct Unicode position, but the visual weight and exact vertical placement of the line reflects each app's font metrics. The effect is consistent in meaning even when it varies slightly in appearance.

Can I combine strikethrough with bold or italic Unicode text? Yes, with some manual effort. You can run text through the bold generator, then apply strikethrough combining characters. The result is 𝗯𝗼̶𝗹̶𝗱̶ ̶𝘀̶𝘁̶𝗿̶𝗶̶𝗸̶𝗲̶𝘁̶𝗵̶𝗿̶𝗼̶𝘂̶𝗴̶𝗵̶. This requires copying the bold output first, then pasting it into a second conversion step.

Cross Out Your Text Now

The Font Style Generator adds strikethrough to your text in one click. Type your message, hit copy, and paste your c̶r̶o̶s̶s̶e̶d̶-̶o̶u̶t̶ corrected text anywhere it needs to go. Free, instant, and no account required.