A motion to strike asks the court to remove specific material from a pleading or the record — redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter, or testimony and evidence that shouldn't have been submitted.
It's narrower than a motion to dismiss
Rather than attacking an entire pleading, a motion to strike targets specific problematic language or allegations within it — useful when most of a filing is proper but a portion isn't.
Identify the specific offending language
Quote the exact language you're asking the court to strike and explain specifically why it fits one of the recognized categories — courts won't strike broad swaths of a filing based on a general objection to its tone.
Also used against improper evidence
Motions to strike aren't limited to pleadings — they're commonly used to challenge affidavits, expert reports, or testimony that doesn't meet evidentiary requirements, especially in summary judgment practice.
Courts grant these sparingly
Because striking material is considered a drastic remedy, courts often deny these motions unless the offending material is clearly improper and genuinely prejudicial if left in the record.