Discord Underline and Strikethrough Text: How to Format

To underline text in Discord, wrap it in two underscores on each side: __your text__. To strikethrough text, wrap it in two tildes on each side: ~~your text~~; Discord renders the marked text with a line through it.

The Markdown Syntax

Discord uses a lightweight formatting system based on Markdown. The punctuation marks act as delimiters: they tell Discord where a style begins and ends. Include the opening and closing pair around the words you want to format.

Underline: __underlined text__ → underlined text
Strikethrough: ~~struck-through text~~ → ~~struck-through text~~
Both: __~~underlined and struck-through text~~__ → underlined and struck-through text

The examples use HTML only to show the visual result; in Discord, type the punctuation characters themselves. The paired markers must enclose the text, and the opening and closing markers should match. A single underscore or tilde is not the standard syntax for these two effects.

How to Format a Message

Click or tap the message box in a text channel or direct message.
Type the desired opening markers, the text, and the matching closing markers. For example, enter ~~The meeting is at 4~~.
Send the message. Discord displays the formatted result in the conversation.

Formatting can be applied to only part of a sentence. For example, Please review __the revised draft__ before Friday. underlines just “the revised draft.” Likewise, That feature is ~~coming today~~ coming next week. strikes through the outdated wording while leaving the correction unmarked.

You generally do not need to open a formatting menu for these markers: type them directly in the message. If you prefer a visual editor, some Discord clients offer formatting controls while composing or editing messages, but the exact controls can differ by client and interface. The typed syntax is the dependable method to know.

Combining Underline and Strikethrough

You can combine styles by nesting their markers. Put the opening marker for the outer style first, then the inner opening marker, the words, and the closing markers in reverse order. For instance, __~~old label~~__ applies both effects to “old label.” Keeping the pairs properly nested makes the intended boundaries easier to read and troubleshoot.

More generally, close the most recently opened pair first. If a message contains several adjacent formatted sections, check that each opening pair has its own corresponding closing pair. A missing or misplaced character can cause Discord to show the punctuation literally or apply formatting over an unexpected span.

Other common Discord styles use different markers: asterisks create italics or bold, and backticks mark code. These are separate Markdown conventions. Do not substitute asterisks for the underline markers, or use backticks around the whole message if you want its text to be underlined or struck through.

Where Formatting Works—and What It Does

Underline and strikethrough are message-text styles. They are useful for emphasis, corrections, playful edits, or showing that wording has been removed while keeping it visible. Strikethrough does not delete a message, hide it, or make it impossible to read; it changes how the text is displayed. If the content should not remain in the conversation, edit or delete the message instead.

Formatting is most predictable in ordinary message text. It is not a universal effect that applies to every element in Discord: text inside code formatting is treated as code, and special content such as embeds or interface labels may have its own display rules. Markdown markers also do not change the actual letters or make text searchable under a different spelling.

When copying a formatted message, remember that the visible styling and the typed punctuation are not necessarily the same thing. Depending on how you copy or paste, you may get the displayed words without the markers, or text that includes the markers. If you need to reproduce the formatting elsewhere in Discord, make sure the destination contains the paired syntax.

Common Problems and Fixes

The punctuation appears instead of formatting: Check that you used two underscores or two tildes at both ends and that the closing pair is present. Also confirm you are entering the markers in message text rather than inside a code span.
Only some of the text is formatted: The markers may be placed too early or too late. Put the opening pair immediately before the intended words and the closing pair immediately after them.
Formatting starts or ends in the wrong place: Look for an extra underscore or tilde elsewhere in the message. Each pair should surround the exact text you intend to style.
Combined styles look inconsistent: Nest the pairs and close them in reverse order, as in __~~text~~__, rather than crossing the boundaries.
It looks different while composing: The editor may show raw markers before the message is sent. Check the sent message to see the rendered result.

Underscores are easy to overlook beside punctuation or at the end of a word. Tildes can also be mistyped, especially on mobile keyboards where the symbol may require a long press or a keyboard-layout change. If a message fails to format, inspect the actual characters rather than repeatedly adding new pairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I underline text in Discord?
Place two underscores before and after the text: __like this__. The paired underscores mark the section to underline.

How do I strikethrough text in Discord?
Place two tildes on both sides: ~~like this~~. The message displays the enclosed text with a line through it.

Can I underline and strikethrough the same words?
Yes. Nest the markers, for example __~~these words~~__, and make sure each opening pair has a matching closing pair.

Can I format only part of a Discord message?
Yes. Put the markers immediately before and after the particular words or phrase. Leave the rest of the message outside the pairs.

Why are my Discord Markdown symbols showing?
Usually a marker is missing, mismatched, or placed inside code formatting. Check for two matching symbols at each boundary and test the syntax in plain message text.

Does strikethrough delete or hide the text?
No. It leaves the text visible with a line through it. Edit or delete the message if you want to remove its content rather than mark it as corrected or crossed out.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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