38

How can I strikeout words in math mode (similar to \sout with \usepackage{ulem} in text mode)? I've tried \usepackage{cancel} and \(\cancel{1+1=2}\) but that draws a diagonal line.

Improve this question
0

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
20

Use something like

\sout{$a^2+b^2=c^2$}

or

\[
  \hbox{\sout{$a^2+b^2$}}=c^2
\]

And you can of course define a command for convenience.

Improve this answer
5
  • 5
    This does not work inside math mode, e.g. if I want to strikeout a portion of a phrase in math mode.
    – N.N.
    Jun 13, 2011 at 12:20
  • @N.N.: It's easy to generalize the solution. See update.
    – Leo Liu
    Jun 13, 2011 at 12:28
  • 1
    This method does not really work well. The ulem package is necessary, and it changes \emph{} to underlining.
    – Jeff
    Aug 29, 2013 at 19:35
  • 1
    @Jeff: Use \normalem.
    – Leo Liu
    Aug 30, 2013 at 2:20
  • @Jeff: or \usepackage[normalem]{ulem}.
    – sigvaldm
    Jan 17, 2020 at 10:54
22

version 2 (fine remark from Martin)

\documentclass{scrartcl}
\usepackage{xcolor,cancel}

\newcommand\hcancel[2][black]{\setbox0=\hbox{$#2$}%
\rlap{\raisebox{.45\ht0}{\textcolor{#1}{\rule{\wd0}{1pt}}}}#2} 

\begin{document}

\[
  x+\hcancel[red]{ \sum_a \mathcal{D}^a\mathcal{D}_a}=2x+ \sum_a \mathcal{D}^a\mathcal{D}_a+3 
\]

\end{document}

enter image description here

Improve this answer
6
  • 1
    \hbox{#2} will typeset #2 in textmode, which is fine with y (except maybe a slightly wrong width), but will break horrible with real math expressions.
    – Martin Scharrer
    Jun 13, 2011 at 12:44
  • @Martin yes you are right, I forgot $...$
    – Alain Matthes
    Jun 13, 2011 at 12:56
  • Does this solution rely on \documentclass{scrartcl}?
    – N.N.
    Jun 13, 2011 at 17:16
  • @N.N. no I think the package `cancel is independent
    – Alain Matthes
    Jun 13, 2011 at 17:47
  • I removed the $$ from the \hbox and included them in the parameter (e.g., \hcancel{$2+2=4$} and it worked fine. Thanks!
    – cxw
    Dec 30, 2016 at 21:26
18

I'm using this hack with the ulem package in the preamble.

\usepackage[normalem]{ulem}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\newcommand{\stkout}[1]{\ifmmode\text{\sout{\ensuremath{#1}}}\else\sout{#1}\fi}

In the document, I use the command thus defined, \stkout

Lorem \stkout{ipsum}. $x + \stkout{y + z} = 1$.
\begin{equation}
    A + \stkout{B + C + D} = E.
\end{equation}

Screen capture of the example document

Reference: Opposite of \ensuremath: ensure that I'm *not* in math mode?

Improve this answer
4
  • 3
    If find the cancel package much more practical, but your method is anyway interesting :)
    – loved.by.Jesus
    Jul 7, 2016 at 13:20
  • 1
    I quite like this approach, but feel that it would work better by just patching this to \sout - you can do this with \let\isout\sout \renewcommand{\sout}[1]{\ifmmode\text{\isout{\ensuremath{#1}}}\else\isout{#1}\fi} in the premable of your document. Requires amsmath and ulem
    – Taylor Alex Raine
    Apr 29, 2020 at 20:31
  • Calling the ulem package seems to have unintended consequences for my bibliography. :(.
    – Till
    Jul 18, 2022 at 9:24
  • Why does this preserve italics even though the math is inside \text?
    – sturgman
    Sep 2, 2022 at 13:11
13

Works in math and text mode

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{calc}
\newsavebox\CBox
\newcommand\hcancel[2][0.5pt]{%
  \ifmmode\sbox\CBox{$#2$}\else\sbox\CBox{#2}\fi%
  \makebox[0pt][l]{\usebox\CBox}%  
  \rule[0.5\ht\CBox-#1/2]{\wd\CBox}{#1}}
\begin{document}

\hcancel{Test}
\hcancel[2pt]{Test}

\end{document}

enter image description here

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Indeed, but you need to restart the mathmode, don't you? E.g. `$x+\hcancel{$y$}+z$.
    – Martin Scharrer
    Jun 13, 2011 at 12:43

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .