Strikethrough in Markdown
Wrap text in two tildes to cross it out: ~~deleted~~. Strikethrough comes from GitHub Flavored Markdown, so this guide also shows the HTML to use where only CommonMark is supported.
Quick answer
How do you strikethrough text in Markdown?
Put two tildes on each side of the text: ~~struck text~~. It becomes a <del> element in HTML. Strikethrough comes from GitHub Flavored Markdown and works on GitHub, GitLab, Discord, Reddit, Obsidian and most editors; renderers that follow only CommonMark need the <del> tag instead.
~~This text is struck through~~Result
This text is struck through
Strikethrough syntax and examples
Two tildes are the form to use. The examples cover the variations and the places where strikethrough is handy, such as prices and finished tasks.
Two tildes
The standard form from GitHub Flavored Markdown. The tildes must touch the text, like the asterisks of bold.
The meeting moved from ~~Monday~~ to Tuesday.Result
The meeting moved from Monday to Tuesday.
One tilde
GitHub and many other renderers also accept one tilde on each side. Discord does not, so two tildes are the safer choice.
~One tilde on each side~Result
One tilde on each side
HTML tags
Where tildes are not supported, use <del> for removed text or <s> for text that is no longer accurate. Both are shown struck through.
<del>Removed in version 2</del>
<s>Free shipping on all orders</s>Result
Removed in version 2
Free shipping on all orders
With bold, italic and links
Strikethrough can wrap other formatting and can sit inside it.
~~**Critical bug**~~ fixed in 1.4
**Price: ~~€99~~ €79**
~~[Old guide](https://example.com/v1)~~Result
In task lists and tables
Crossing out finished items and old prices are common uses.
- [x] ~~Write the draft~~
- [ ] Review the draft
| Plan | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Pro | ~~€99~~ €79 |Result
-
Write the draft - Review the draft
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Pro |
Showing tildes
A backslash before each tilde shows it as typed, and so do backticks.
\~\~not struck through\~\~
`~~shown as code~~`Result
~~not struck through~~
~~shown as code~~
Strikethrough in popular apps
Every app that follows GitHub Flavored Markdown supports two tildes. Chat apps differ in the number of tildes.
| App | Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub / GitLab | Supported | ~~text~~ works in files, issues, pull requests and comments. GitHub also accepts ~text~. |
| Discord | Supported | ~~text~~ works. One tilde is shown as typed. |
| Slack | Differs | Slack messages use one tilde: ~text~. |
| Obsidian | Supported | ~~text~~ works in editing and reading view. |
| Notion | Supported | Typing ~text~ strikes the text through as you type. |
| CommonMark only | Not supported | No strikethrough syntax. Write <del>text</del> instead. |
Questions and answers
What does ~~ mean in Markdown?
~~ mean in Markdown?~~text~~ shows the text with a line through it. In HTML it becomes <del>, the element for deleted text.Is strikethrough part of standard Markdown?
<del>text</del>.Why is my strikethrough not working?
~~ text ~~ fails), that both pairs are there, and that the app supports GitHub Flavored Markdown. Discord needs two tildes, and Slack needs one.How do I strikethrough text on GitHub?
~~text~~. It works in READMEs, issues, pull requests, comments and wikis.How do I strikethrough text in Discord and Slack?
~~text~~. Slack uses one, ~text~.Can strikethrough span several lines?
What is the difference between <del> and <s>?
<del> and <s>?<del> marks text removed from a document, often next to an <ins> with what replaced it. <s> marks text that is no longer accurate, such as an old price. Both look the same.How do I show tildes without strikethrough?
\~\~text\~\~, or put the text in backticks.