Doorhalen

Doorhalen is a Dutch verb meaning to pull through, erase, or cancel text, especially by marking it with a line or by removing it from a document. It is commonly used in editing, proofreading, and document handling to indicate that a term, sentence, or section should not remain in the final version. The term is also used in administrative and forms-related contexts to signal that an entry is void or no longer valid.

Etymology and sense: The word combines door- (through) with halen (to pull). The original sense refers to physically pulling something through or across a line, and the meaning broadened over time to the act of crossing out or deleting written material, and then to digital deletion as well.

Usage and nuance: Doorhalen is a formal or technical term typical of writing and editing practice. It is distinct from doorstrepen, which emphasizes the visible act of drawing a line through text. Doorhalen implies removal or cancellation rather than merely marking for later correction. In manuscripts, forms, or any document requiring a revised version, you may encounter doorhalen to indicate what should be omitted.

Grammar and variants: Doorhalen is a separable prefix verb. In present tense you may hear ik haal de fout door; in compound tenses the past participle is doorgehaald (ik heb de fout doorgehaald). It is closely related to synonyms such as doorstrepen (to strike through), verwijderen (to remove), and corrigeren (to correct).

See also: doorstrepen, verwijderen, corrigeren, proofreading.