StrikethroughEdit
Strikethrough is a straightforward, utilitarian device in both print and digital text. By drawing a horizontal line through characters, it signals that the marked words are no longer active in the sense of the text’s current meaning, while preserving a visible trace of what existed before. This makes it useful in editing, revision, typography, and digital communication, where showing evolution—rather than erasing history—can aid readers and editors alike. In practice, strikethrough appears in proofreading, markup languages, word processors, and on the web, where it often serves different but related purposes: negation, redaction, sarcasm, or the display of proposed changes. Typography Editing Markdown HTML
Strikethrough operates differently across systems, but the core idea remains consistent: the words are not to be read as part of the final form, yet the original text remains accessible for context or audit. In traditional printing and manuscript editing, a stroke or overstrike was used to indicate deletions. In modern markup, several standards encode the same intent in different ways, ensuring compatibility across tools and platforms. For example, in many environments, text can be rendered with a line through it via styling, while in markup languages like Markdown the standard practice is to enclose text with a pair of markers to produce the same effect. In HTML, one may see the del or s elements, and CSS offers text-decoration: line-through to achieve the same visual outcome. HTML CSS
History and practice
The historical lineage of strikethrough traces to before digital typesetting, when editors physically overstruck or inked a line through material to show that it should be disregarded in the final proof. This allowed the reader to see how an argument or sentence evolved, an early form of revision transparency. As printing and publishing grew more formal, editors relied on visible deletions to preserve accountability and to maintain continuity with earlier drafts. With the rise of word processors and digital markup, strikethrough gained new life as a reversible, machine-readable annotation. Modern workflows often pair strikethrough with comments or tracked changes, creating a clear path from suggestion to approval. Proofreading Editing Track changes
In digital ecosystems, the exact representation of a strikeout can vary by platform. Some systems render a visual line through the text, others use a combination of strikethrough and inserted text or comments to show what was removed and what was intended as replacement. The approach chosen can affect readability, accessibility, and the ability to audit edits. For readers and editors who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies, the method of representation matters, and best practice emphasizes explicit semantics alongside presentation. Accessibility Screen reader Markup language
Notably, strikethrough has become a familiar tool in collaboration spaces, where it helps teams negotiate wording without losing prior ideas. In Markdown, for example, ~~, text ~~ renders as strikeout, illustrating how a simple syntax choice can influence how a document is read and edited. In contrast, in HTML and CSS, the same effect is achieved with semantic elements and styling, which can be important for search engines and accessibility tooling. Markdown HTML CSS
Notation and technologies
Different ecosystems implement strikethrough in ways that reflect their design goals. On the web, semantics matter: del and s elements carry different connotations in markup, while CSS can separate content from presentation. The choice between visible strike lines and a more subtle editorial indicator depends on goals like readability, auditability, and accessibility. In many text editors, the feature sits alongside other revision tools, such as comments and tracked changes, reinforcing the idea that editing is a collaborative, transparent process rather than a hidden censorship. HTML CSS Editing Track changes
In markup-oriented environments, the purpose of strikethrough often extends beyond mere cancellation. It can indicate proposed edits in collaborative documents, show historical revisions in versioned writing, or present sarcasm and rhetorical tone in informal communication. This flexibility, while practical, also raises questions about when to use strikeouts versus plain deletions or rephrasing, especially in formal contexts where clarity and precision are paramount. Editing Redaction Sarcasm
The use of strikethrough intersects with debates about moderation and public discourse. Some platforms use strike-through as a gentle form of redaction or correction, while others view it as a potential obstacle to full comprehension. From a pragmatic standpoint, the tool is most effective when it enhances transparency—letting readers see what was once proposed and how it evolved—rather than when it becomes a trapdoor for obfuscation. Redaction Editing Track changes
Cultural and editorial debates
In contemporary discourse, strikethrough sits at the crossroads of tradition, readability, and editorial integrity. Supporters argue that preserving a visible record of revision strengthens trust: readers can trace the development of an argument, assess change over time, and distinguish between original language and subsequent refinement. This aligns with broader principles of accountability in public communication, a concern that tends to resonate across diverse audiences.
Critics sometimes portray aggressive or careless redaction as a form of censorship or as erasing history. In some strands of public discourse, this critique is linked to broader debates about language, optics, and how societies handle sensitive topics. Proponents of a more expansive use of strikethrough contend that it helps prevent misrepresentation by showing what was considered and then rejected, rather than erasing that context entirely. From a practical perspective, a balanced approach is to use strikethrough to preserve context while ensuring readability and clear signaling of what remains definitive. Critics of over-cautious editing might argue that excessive suppression of language undermines blunt truth-telling; defenders respond that responsible editorial practice uses strikeouts to clarify what has been changed, not to mislead. In these discussions, it is common to encounter the claim that the so-called “cancel culture” critique overreads the function of editorial marks; the reasonable reply is that strikethrough is a formatting and historical device, not a political act in itself. The point is about clarity, not about ideology. Editing Redaction Typography
When discussing topics that touch on social identity, the article treats terms with care consistent with editorial standards. In this section, racial descriptors are kept in lowercase: black and white. This mirrors current editorial practice in many reference works and reflects a focus on ideas and processes rather than on individuals or identity categories. The straight-line function of strikethrough remains the same regardless of context, while the surrounding discussion should aim for accuracy and usefulness rather than polemics. Typography Racial terminology
Practical considerations
When to use strikethrough: Use it to indicate that a portion of text is intentionally superseded by later wording, or to show a correction without erasing the original. In formal documents, reserve strikeouts for revisions and ensure that the final version is unambiguous. Editing Proofreading
Readability and accessibility: Ensure that readers relying on assistive technology can interpret the markup. Prefer semantic cues (such as explicit edit notes or alternates) alongside the visual strike to avoid ambiguity. Accessibility Screen reader
Differentiating platforms: In some environments, the strike line may render differently or be interpreted as decorative rather than semantic. When possible, accompany strikeouts with comments or version history to retain meaning across tools. HTML CSS Markdown
International and stylistic considerations: Strikethrough can interact with bidirectional text, diacritics, or language-specific typography. Editors should test across languages and ensure that the mark does not disrupt word breaks or readability. Typography Proofreading