Overstrike is a text editing technique in which new characters replace existing ones at the same position in a document. It is also known as overtype. When using this typographic mode, each new character typed by a user replaces an existing character in the cursor’s current position rather than being inserted and shifting the subsequent text to the right.
History of overstrike
When typewriters were the dominant medium for typography, an overstrike was used to correct mistakes, bold text, or create special symbols. For instance, typing a “backspace” followed by another character could superimpose the new character over the previous one, creating composite symbols.
With the advent of early word processing software, overstrikes were still used to assist users transitioning from typewriters to computers. These early word processors included overstrike functionality to mimic the behavior of typewriters.
With word editing programs offering more options, advanced text editing features such as the “Insert” function in word processors such as Microsoft Word and Unicode characters make overstrikes largely unneeded.
Overstrikes are still used in specific scenarios. For example, certain plain text editors might offer an overstrike mode to allow programmers to overwrite code conveniently. Overstrike is also sometimes used for scripting languages such as HTML or CSS when trying to represent special characters that cannot be represented by Unicode. These are usually characters that denote a difference in pronunciation such a circumflex accent.
What is the difference between a strikethrough and overstrike?
Overstrike is sometimes mistaken for a strikethrough. A strikethrough refers to text that has a line imposed over it, usually used to denote deleted words or sections of a text that are no longer relevant. (ex. TEXT). An overstrike refers to typing text over already written letters rather than having a line run over those letters.
How to use overstrike with HTML
When it comes to HTML, characters with overstrikes can be created by appending the appropriate decimal or hexadecimal HTML entity immediately after the character that you wish to overstrike. For instance, the diaresis accent—represented visually as two dots that are placed at the top of a letter—can be implemented using the HTML entity `̈` (decimal) or `̈` (hexadecimal).
When you place this HTML code directly following a character that can be overstruck, the accent will appear over that character. On the other hand, if it is not placed immediately after a character that can be overstruck, the accent will render on its own.
Web browsers that are compatible with HTML overstrike marks
When using overstrike for HTML, keep in mind that these may not show up correctly outside of the compatible web browsers. Here is a list of the compatible browsers:
- Google Chrome
- Firefox versions 35 and above
- Safari
- Opera
- Microsoft Edge
- Internet Explorer versions 11 and above.
Conclusion
Overstrike represents an earlier era of text editing, reflecting the constraints and needs of its time. While not as prevalent today, understanding overstrike helps appreciate the evolution of text editing tools and techniques, showcasing how technology advances in making text manipulation more efficient and user-friendly.
