Formatting Issues

How to Renumber Word Lists After Strikethrough and Bracketed Text

Amos Gikunda Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to maintain correct automatic list numbering for legislative sections when certain items are marked with strikethrough and brackets instead of being completely deleted.

How to Renumber Word Lists After Strikethrough and Bracketed Text

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting legislative or legal documents where deleted text must remain visible (using brackets and strikethrough) rather than being permanently removed from the page.
Observed behavior: Word does not recognize manual strikethrough formatting as a deletion, causing the automatic list numbering to count the struck-through items and throwing off the subsequent section numbers.

Before you start

Before making structural changes to your legislative document, ensure you save a backup copy to prevent accidental loss of complex legal formatting.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Track Changes for Document Deletions

Instead of manually applying strikethrough formatting, use the built-in Track Changes feature so the word processor recognizes the list item as a deletion.

When you manually format text with a strikethrough, the software still views it as active text. Using Track Changes tells the program that the text is intended for deletion, which can help manage list numbering more effectively.

Enable Track Changes

Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Track Changes' to enable revision tracking.

Delete the targeted text

Select the bracketed legislative text you wish to remove and press the 'Delete' key on your keyboard.

Verify the markup display

Ensure your markup view is set to 'All Markup'. The deleted text will now appear with a strikethrough automatically, preserving the visual requirement for legislative edits.

Update list numbering

Check if the automatic numbering updates. Depending on your version, marked deletions may still require you to temporarily accept changes or adjust settings to reflect final numbering.

Use Track Changes for Document Deletions

Solution 2

Manually Adjust List Numbering Values

If Track Changes does not automatically resolve the numbering due to specific document formatting constraints, you can manually reset the numbering value for subsequent sections.

Efficiently Manage Document Revisions with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive Track Changes feature and robust formatting controls, making it incredibly easy to handle complex legislative drafts, manage deletions, and control list numbering without formatting headaches.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your legislative document containing the lists.
2. Activate Track Changes: Go to the 'Review' tab on the top menu ribbon and click on the 'Track Changes' button.
3. Perform your deletions: Highlight the text you want to remove and delete it. WPS Writer will mark it visually with a strikethrough.
4. Manage numbering: Right-click any list item to easily access 'Bullets and Numbering' settings to fine-tune section numbers as needed.

Easily manage document revisions with advanced Track ChangesFully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx)Lightweight, fast, and free alternative for professional document editingPrecise control over multi-level list numbering and legal formatting

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does manual strikethrough formatting break my list numbering?

Applying a strikethrough font format only changes the visual appearance of the text. Because the paragraph still exists in the document structure, the word processor continues to count it as an active numbered list item.

Can I automate renumbering legislative sections using a macro?

Yes, if you frequently deal with manual strikethroughs and brackets, you can create a custom VBA macro. This macro can be programmed to search for bracketed, struck-through text and automatically adjust the numbering values of the surrounding list items, though it requires advanced coding skills.

How can I view the final numbering without seeing the struck-through text?

If you used Track Changes to mark the deletions, you can go to the Review tab and change the display view from 'All Markup' to 'No Markup'. This hides the deleted text and shows you how the final printed document and its numbering will look.

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