## Math-Linux.com

Knowledge base dedicated to Linux and applied mathematics.

Home > Latex > FAQ > Latex - FAQ > Strikethrough - strike out text or formula in LaTeX

# Strikethrough - strike out text or formula in LaTeX

How to cross out / strikethrough text or equations in Latex?
There are two main ways to do this with the cancel and ulem packages. It also depends on your needs: is it in mathematical mode or in text mode?

## Strikethrough in LaTeX using cancel packages

I personally prefer this package because it works equally well on Latex text or on Latex equations
You must use cancel packages as follows:

\cancel draws a diagonal line (slash) through its argument.
\bcancel uses the negative slope (a backslash).
\xcancel draws an X (actually \cancel plus \bcancel).
\cancelto〈value〉〈expression〉 draws a diagonal arrow through the 〈expression〉,
pointing to the 〈value〉

Here is an example I built to illustrate this package


\documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{cancel}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

I want to strike out symbols in math mode $\cancel{\alpha + 2}=8$

I want to strikethrough this \cancel{text} in text mode.

I want to strikethrough an equation

\begin{equation*}
\cancel{f(x)=(x+a)(x+b)}
\end{equation*}

\begin{aligned} B'&=-\nabla \times E,\\ E'&=\cancel{\nabla \times B - 2\pi j},\\ E'&=\nabla \times B - 4\pi j \end{aligned}

I prefer backslash ! Please bcancel

\begin{aligned} B'&=-\nabla \times E,\\ E'&=\bcancel{\nabla \times B - 2\pi j},\\ E'&=\nabla \times B - 4\pi j \end{aligned}

\begin{aligned} B'&=-\nabla \times E,\\ E'&=\xcancel{\nabla \times B - 2\pi j},\\ E'&=\nabla \times B - 4\pi j \end{aligned}

What about cross and replace ?

\begin{aligned} B'&=-\nabla \times E,\\ E'&=\cancelto{\nabla \times B - 2\pi j}{\nabla \times B - 4\pi j} \end{aligned}

\end{document}



Documentation in https://ctan.org/pkg/cancel

## Strikethrough text in LaTeX using ulem packages

ulem is only for text. You can use sout or xout functions as follows.

\sout line struck through word

\xout marked over


\documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[normalem]{ulem}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

I want to strike out symbols in math mode $\sout{\alpha + 2}=8$

Hum hum not possible ...

I want to strikethrough this \sout{text} in text mode.

Yes we can !

I want to strikethrough this \xout{text} in text mode.

Yes we can and it is very cool xout !!!

I want to strikethrough an equation

\begin{equation*}
\sout{f(x)=(x+a)(x+b)}
\end{equation*}

Hum hum not possible ...

\end{document}