LaTeX Strikethrough
Use the ulem package. \sout{text} for single line. Always pair with [normalem] to preserve \emph.
Setup
% IMPORTANT: pass [normalem] to keep \emph as italic
\usepackage[normalem]{ulem}
% Now you can use:
\sout{strikethrough text}
\xout{cross-out text} % less common
% Without [normalem], \emph would also become underlined.Revision tracking pattern
% Manual approach
\sout{deleted old text} \textcolor{red}{added new text}
% Better: use the changes package
\usepackage{changes}
\deleted{deleted text} % shows as strikethrough
\added{new text} % shows as colored
\replaced{new}{old} % combines bothMath mode strikethrough
\usepackage{cancel}
% Cancel a factor in an equation
$\frac{\cancel{x}}{\cancel{x} \cdot y} = \frac{1}{y}$
% Different cancellation directions
$\cancel{x}$ % diagonal: top-left to bottom-right
$\bcancel{x}$ % diagonal: top-right to bottom-left
$\xcancel{x}$ % both directions (X shape)Common mistakes
- Forgetting
[normalem]. ulem redefines\emphto underline by default. Always use[normalem]. - Using
\soutin math mode. Doesn't work. Use\cancelinstead. - Trying
\soutfor long paragraphs. Breaks across line ends. Use the changes package for revision tracking. - Mixing
\soutwith\textbf. Order matters:\textbf{\sout{text}}works; reversed may have rendering quirks.
#strike[strikethrough text]
// In equations (math mode):
$ cancel(x) $ // diagonal cancellationFrequently Asked Questions
Use the ulem package: \usepackage{ulem}. Then \sout{text} produces strikethrough. \xout{text} produces a 'crossed out' version with diagonal lines. There's no built-in strikethrough — you need ulem or a similar package.
\sout draws a single horizontal line through the text — what most people mean by 'strikethrough'. \xout draws diagonal X-shaped lines through each character — more emphatic, less common in academic writing. Use \sout for revision marks; \xout for emphasis (rare).
By default, ulem redefines \emph to underline (since strikethrough and underlining are related typographic conventions). To preserve italic emphasis: \usepackage[normalem]{ulem}. The [normalem] option keeps \emph as italic.
Common pattern: \sout{old text} \textcolor{red}{new text}. Or use the changes package: \usepackage{changes} \added{new text} \deleted{old text} \replaced{new}{old}. Cleaner than manual coloring.
\sout doesn't work in math mode by default. For math: use \cancel from the cancel package — \cancel{x} draws a diagonal line through x, common for canceling factors in equations. Or \bcancel for the other diagonal direction.
ulem's \sout doesn't always handle line breaks gracefully — it can leave gaps at line ends. For prose with line breaks, use \xout or the soul package's \st. For one-line spans, \sout is fine.
\sout{paragraph text} works for a single paragraph but breaks across pages awkwardly. For longer spans, manually \sout{} each line, or use \renewcommand{\ULdepth}{1.8pt} to adjust the line position. For revision tracking purposes, the changes package handles this better.
ACS papers don't use much strikethrough — it's more common in editing/revision documents than published papers. When used, \sout from ulem is standard. For chemistry equations specifically, \cancel from the cancel package handles canceled factors.