Strikethrough Text Generator

Strikethrough text — h̶e̶l̶l̶o̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶l̶d̶ — uses the Unicode combining long stroke overlay (U+0336) to overlay every character with a horizontal line. Because it's a Unicode-level operation rather than a text-formatting one, the strikethrough survives copy-paste into platforms that strip rich-text formatting: Instagram bios, X/Twitter posts, Facebook, Discord, LinkedIn, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube.

This is the only reliable way to strike through text in plain-text platforms — no shipping receipt, sale post, or revised price needs to settle for boring formatting again.

Under the hood — the Unicode block

The tool applies the Unicode Combining Long Stroke Overlay character (U+0336) after every printable character in the input string. Under the hood, it iterates through the string, appending U+0336 to each character (including spaces, depending on settings). Because U+0336 is a combining diacritical mark, it overlays a horizontal line on the preceding character when rendered by a compliant font. This is a pure Unicode transformation — no HTML, no rich text — so the strikethrough effect survives copy-paste into any plain-text field that supports Unicode rendering (e.g., Instagram, Twitter, Discord). The tool does not alter the underlying characters; it merely inserts a zero-width combining character after each one.

How to use it

1. Type or paste your text into the input field.
2. Click the 'Generate' button to apply the strikethrough effect.
3. The output appears instantly with U+0336 inserted after each character.
4. Copy the result and paste it into your target platform.

Where it works — and where it breaks

Spaces

By default, spaces are also overlaid with a stroke, but some platforms may render them oddly; you can toggle a no-strike option.

Empty input

An empty input produces an empty output, as there are no characters to modify.

Non-Latin scripts

Works with any Unicode character (CJK, Cyrillic, etc.), but rendering depends on the font’s support for combining marks on those characters.

Emojis

Emojis often have complex grapheme clusters; applying U+0336 may break the emoji or render unpredictably; it's best avoided.

Pro tips for stylized text

• Use strikethrough on outdated prices or stock status in social media bios to visually cancel old info without deleting it.
• Combine with bold or italic (e.g., via Unicode bold/italic generators) to create layered styles — but test compatibility first.
• Test the output on your target platform before posting, as some fonts or apps may not render U+0336 correctly.
• Avoid using strikethrough on long sentences; it can become visually cluttered and hard to read.

vs HTML, Markdown, and styled-text fields

This tool generates Unicode strikethrough; here's how it stacks up against two common alternatives.

Where this came from

The strikethrough mark has been used in editing and proofreading for centuries, originally handwritten as a horizontal line through text to indicate deletion. In digital typography, the concept was codified in Unicode's Combining Diacritical Marks block (U+0300–U+036F) first published in 1991. The specific Combining Long Stroke Overlay (U+0336) was added later to provide a consistent cross-out effect at the character level, enabling plain-text strikethrough without formatting.

What it looks like in real apps

Sale prices ($̶1̶9̶.̶9̶9̶ now $9.99)

Cross out the original price, add the new one. Works in Instagram captions, Facebook posts, eBay descriptions — any platform that accepts text but doesn't have rich-text formatting.

Revisions, edits, and corrections

Show what changed by crossing out the old text and adding the new. Useful for email correspondence, Reddit comment edits, and document review threads.

Self-deprecating humour

"Going to the gym tonight" → "G̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶y̶m̶ Going to the couch." Strikethrough as deadpan humour is a staple of internet writing.

Out-of-stock indicators

Shop owners use strikethrough on sold-out item names in Instagram Story listings. Quick visual signal that something's gone.

To-do list completion

Cross off completed items inline in plain-text to-do lists, Slack messages, or task-tracking systems that don't have a built-in checkbox feature.