How to Strike Out Text in Adobe PDF: A Comprehensive Guide

II. Understanding Strikethrough in PDFs

"Strike out text," or "strikethrough," refers to a visual formatting effect that draws a line through words or phrases. It's a non-destructive way to suggest deletions, indicate errors, or demonstrate transparency in a document. By applying a strikethrough, the original text remains visible, allowing readers to understand the intended change without permanently removing the content.

The use of strikethrough has historical roots in editing and proofreading processes, evolving from manual methods to digital applications. In modern digital workflows, it plays a crucial role in collaborative document review, ensuring that all parties are aware of proposed modifications and the rationale behind them. It clearly communicates which parts of the document are under consideration for removal or change.

III. How to Strikethrough Text in Adobe Acrobat (Desktop)

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC provides a robust set of tools for working with PDFs, including the ability to easily strike out text. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the strikethrough feature in the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat.

Opening the PDF

First, launch Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on your computer. Then, navigate to the "File" menu and select "Open" to locate and open the PDF file you want to edit.

Using the Comment Tool

Next, access the "Comment" tool. This is typically found in the right-hand pane of the Acrobat window. Clicking on the "Comment" tool will reveal a set of annotation options. Within the Comment toolbar, look for the "Strikethrough Text" tool, represented by an icon that looks like the letter "T" with a line through it.

Applying the Strikethrough

Once you've selected the "Strikethrough Text" tool, simply click and drag your cursor over the text you wish to strike through. As you drag, a line will appear through the selected text, visually indicating that it is marked for removal. Ensure you cover the entire word or phrase you intend to strike out.

Removing or Undoing a Strikethrough

If you make a mistake or want to remove a strikethrough, select the text with the strikethrough. You can then press the "Delete" key on your keyboard, or right-click on the selected text and choose "Delete" from the context menu. This will remove the strikethrough from the text.

Changing Strikethrough Properties

Adobe Acrobat also allows you to customize the appearance of the strikethrough. Typically, you can change the color of the strikethrough line to make it more visible or to match your preferred editing style. Some versions may also allow you to adjust the opacity of the strikethrough, though this feature is not always available.

IV. How to Strikethrough Text in Adobe Acrobat Online Services

Adobe Acrobat Online Services offers a convenient way to work with PDFs directly in your web browser. The process for striking out text is similar to the desktop version, but with a slightly different interface.

First, upload your PDF to Adobe Acrobat Online Services. This can be done by dragging and dropping the file into the designated area or by selecting it from your computer's file system. Once the PDF is uploaded, it will open in the online editor.

Access the "Comment" tool, which is usually located in a toolbar on the top or side of the screen. Within the Comment toolbar, find and select the "Strikethrough Text" tool. Similar to the desktop version, it will be represented by an icon showing a letter with a line through it.

To apply the strikethrough, click and drag your cursor over the text you want to mark for deletion. A line will appear through the selected text, visually indicating the proposed change. Additionally, Adobe Acrobat Online Services often allows you to add comments to markups, providing further context or explanation for the strikethrough.

V. How to Strikethrough text using PDF Redactor Online

PDF Redactor Online offers a streamlined approach to striking through text. Its user-friendly interface makes the process intuitive and efficient.

To begin, open your PDF file in PDF Redactor Online. This can be done by simply dragging and dropping the file into the designated area on the webpage. Once the file is loaded, you will see a toolbar with various editing options.

Next, select the "Strikethrough" tool from the toolbar. With the strikethrough tool active, highlight the text you wish to strike through. The strikethrough will be applied instantly to the highlighted area. PDF Redactor Online also allows you to customize the appearance of the strikethrough, including the color, thickness, and opacity of the line. Adjusting these properties can help you to make the strikethrough more visible or match your preferred editing style.

Finally, save the redacted document. With PDF Redactor Online, the changes are applied directly in your browser, ensuring that your data never leaves your device. This ensures your sensitive data is protected during the redaction process.

VI. Striking Through Scanned Documents

Striking through text in scanned documents can present a unique challenge, as the text is often part of an image rather than selectable text. In such cases, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is often required. First, use an OCR tool to convert the scanned image into editable text. Once the document is OCRed and the text is selectable, you can then use the strikethrough tools in Adobe Acrobat, other PDF editors, or a redaction tool like PDF Redactor Online to strike through the desired text. Keep in mind that the accuracy of OCR can vary, so it's important to review the converted text carefully and make any necessary corrections before applying strikethroughs or redactions.

VII. Using MS Word as an Alternative

If you're comfortable working with Microsoft Word, you can use it as an alternative method for striking out text in a PDF. This approach involves converting the PDF to a Word document, applying the strikethrough in Word, and then converting the document back to PDF format.

First, convert the PDF file to a Word document using a PDF converter tool. Open the converted document in Microsoft Word. Select the text you want to strike through and apply the strikethrough formatting. This can typically be found in the "Font" section of the "Home" tab.

Once you've applied all the necessary strikethroughs, convert the Word document back to PDF format. Save the document as a PDF file. While this method can be useful, keep in mind that converting between PDF and Word formats can sometimes introduce formatting issues. Carefully review the final PDF to ensure that the strikethroughs are applied correctly and that the document's overall formatting is preserved.

VIII. FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about striking out text in PDFs:

What is the shortcut for strikethrough in PDF?

There isn't a universal shortcut within all PDF editors. However, in Microsoft Word, you can use Ctrl + Shift + = (or Cmd + Shift + = on a Mac). For Adobe Acrobat, you generally need to select the strikethrough tool from the Comment toolbar.

Does strikethrough permanently remove text from a PDF?

No, strikethrough does not permanently remove text. It only visually marks the text for deletion. To permanently remove text, you need to use redaction tools like PDF Redactor Online which completely removes the text from the document.

Can strikethrough be undone in a PDF?

Yes, strikethrough can typically be undone by selecting the text with the strikethrough and pressing the "Delete" key or using the "Undo" function.

Is strikethrough visible to everyone who reads the PDF?

Yes, strikethrough is visible to everyone who opens and views the PDF. It's a visual annotation that is part of the document.

IX. Conclusion

This article has covered various methods for striking out text in Adobe PDF documents, including using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Adobe Acrobat Online Services, Microsoft Word, and PDF Redactor Online. Each method offers its own advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that best suits your needs and workflow.

Strikethrough is a valuable tool for editing, reviewing, and collaborating on PDF documents. It allows you to suggest changes without permanently removing content, facilitating a transparent and efficient document review process. For permanent removal of sensitive information, consider using a redaction tool like PDF Redactor Online which provides secure and private redaction directly in your browser. Explore PDF Redactor Online for a seamless and secure PDF redaction experience.