Office for Mac Issues

How to Show Deleted Text as Strikethrough in Word for Mac

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants deleted text in Word to appear as inline strikethrough rather than moving to margin balloons when Track Changes is enabled.

How to Show Deleted Text as Strikethrough in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Editing and reviewing academic articles using the Track Changes feature.
Observed behavior: Deleted text appears in the margin or disappears entirely when revisions are displayed in balloons, instead of showing as inline strikethrough.

Before you start

Ensure that the Track Changes feature is turned on in your document and that you have actually deleted text to test the display settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Track Changes to Show Revisions Inline

This is the primary method to force deleted text to appear as strikethrough directly within the text rather than in margin balloons.

Microsoft Word for Mac offers different ways to display tracked changes. If balloons are enabled, deletions move to the margins to keep the main text clean. Forcing revisions inline overrides this behavior and brings the strikethrough text back into the paragraphs.

Select All Markup

Open your document in Word for Mac, go to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon, click the 'Tracking' display dropdown, and ensure 'All Markup' is selected.

Show Revisions Inline

Still on the 'Review' tab, locate the 'Balloons' button. Click it and select 'Show All Revisions Inline' from the dropdown menu. Your deletions will now appear as strikethrough text directly in the document.

Verify Preferences

If the text still doesn't show as strikethrough, click 'Word' in the top Apple menu bar, select 'Preferences', click on 'Track Changes', and ensure 'Deletions' is explicitly set to 'Strikethrough'.

Configure Track Changes to Show Revisions Inline

Version Differences: If you are following tutorials that mention 'Advanced Options', you might be reading instructions for Word for Windows. Stick to the 'Preferences' menu on a Mac.

Seamless Document Review

Track Changes Easily with WPS Writer

If you find Microsoft Word's markup settings confusing, WPS Office offers a straightforward alternative. WPS Writer handles Track Changes beautifully, allowing you to easily display deletions as inline strikethrough while remaining fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer on your Mac and open the .docx file you need to review.
2. Enable Track Changes: Navigate to the 'Review' tab in the top ribbon and click the 'Track Changes' button.
3. Show Inline Revisions: Click on the 'Balloons' option in the Review tab and choose 'Show All Revisions Inline' to display deletions as strikethrough text instantly.

Free and lightweight word processor for MacFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) documents and track changes formatsIntuitive Review tab interface makes document editing and formatting simple

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my deleted text appear in balloons instead of as strikethrough?

This happens when Word's Track Changes settings are configured to display revisions in balloons. You need to change the balloon setting to 'Show All Revisions Inline' so the deleted text stays inside the paragraph as strikethrough.

Where do I find Track Changes preferences in Word for Mac?

You can access these settings by opening Word, clicking 'Word' in the very top macOS menu bar, selecting 'Preferences', and then clicking on the 'Track Changes' icon. Here you can customize colors and styles for deletions and insertions.

Does changing the markup view affect how the document prints?

Yes. If revisions are set to show in balloons, they will print in the document margins. To print deleted text as inline strikethrough, you must set the revisions to 'Show All Revisions Inline' before you print.

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