Feeling confused by looking at a spreadsheet? Well, you’re not the only one who faced it. There’s no doubt that Excel is someone like your trusty friend who can help you organise data, crunch numbers, or plan your next big project. But let’s be honest, sometimes you might feel overwhelmed, right?
Don’t worry, in this blog post, we will explore some Excel tips and tricks that’ll make your work fast and easy. These are beginner-friendly, practical tips that will help you level up your Excel skills. So, without any delay, let’s get started.
Before we start, let’s know why Excel is important. Well, Microsoft Excel is a great tool to help you stay organised, whether you’re running a small business, keeping track of your spending, or just making a grocery list. But you know what, Excel can do so much more than you might realise. And with some tips and tricks, you can save hours of work, impress your boss with clean spreadsheets, and make understanding data much easier than you’d expect.
Excel can feel confusing with so many rows and columns. But these tips will help you navigate easily.
When you click here and there might seem easy, but it takes more time than you think. And then the keyboard shortcuts come in to make your work easier. With a few key presses, you can save time and get more work done without even touching the mouse. Here are some keyword shortcuts mentioned below:
Need to grab all your data at once? Well, you just have to click the little triangle where the row numbers and column letters meet (above row 1 and left of column A). And you will see your entire sheet is selected. This is great for copying or formatting everything at once.
Ever scroll down a long spreadsheet and lose track of your column headers? It happens to everyone. You’re looking at row 150, and suddenly you can’t remember what was in column B or C. Was it “Price”? Or maybe “Date”? It’s easy to get lost when your headers disappear. That’s where Freeze Panes comes in. To use it:
Want to freeze multiple rows or columns? Select the cell below and to the right of what you want to keep visible (cell B2 to freeze row 1 and column A), then click Freeze Panes. Now your headers stay put no matter how far you scroll.
Flash Fill is like having Excel read your mind. You will start typing, and Excel will figure out what you’re trying to do. Whether you're splitting names, fixing phone numbers, or creating email addresses, Flash Fill sees the pattern and fills in the rest for you. No formulas. No dragging. For example, suppose you have a column of full names, Erina Frade, and want just the first names:
Got a list with repeated entries? That's making you crazy, and struggling with removing them. Don't worry, if your Excel sheet has the same names, items, or values showing up over and over again, you can fix them easily. Excel has built-in tools to help you find and remove duplicates in just a few clicks. Highlight your data.
Example: If you have a customer list with duplicate emails, this tool ensures each email appears only once. It’s a lifesaver for cleaning up messy datasets.
Drop-down lists make data entry foolproof and consistent. If you are tired of people typing different versions of the same thing, like "Yes," "yes," or "Y", drop-down lists can fix that in no time. With a drop-down list, you give people a set of choices to pick from. This means no more spelling errors, no more guessing, and no more messy data. Everyone selects from the same options, keeping your sheet clean and organised. Select a cell or range.
When you're analysing information in Excel. Blank cells can cause problems in your data, like they might break your formula, show the charts incorrectly, or don’t calculate accurately, and in short, you can think that they will create confusion and lead to errors. So, to remove them, you have to do the following:
Want your headers to look a little more unique? Well, you can try adding a diagonal line inside a cell. It’s a great way to show two pieces of information in one cell, like “Name” on one side and “Date” on the other. This is especially useful when you’re working with limited space. So, let’s give it a try:
Got some data you don’t want others to see, but still need it for your formulas or calculations? No worries! You can hide it without deleting it by using a custom number format. This trick keeps the data right where it is, but makes it invisible on the sheet, and it’s great for hiding sensitive info like costs, salaries, or helper columns used in formulas.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by seeing a huge amount of data? Well, Meet Pivot Tables. Pivot Tables are one of the most powerful tools in Excel. They will help you summarise, organise, and analyse large amounts of data, and you don’t have to write them manually, just use a single formula and your work is done.
These tips cover everything that you need to navigate, whether you’re a student, small business owner, or just organising your life. These tricks make Excel your best friend. Start with one or two, practice them, and soon you’ll be the go-to Excel expert in your office or friend group. It helps you:
Ready to Level Up? Try these tips in your next Excel project and see how they transform your workflow. You can start using Flash Fill to clean up names, or you can create a drop-down list for quick data entry, or build a Pivot Table to understand your numbers better. And, keep exploring, keep learning.
Master Excel with these expert tips and tricks. From formulas to formatting, this free guide helps you boost productivity and achieve success.
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