If you're like most people, you probably use Microsoft Excel on a daily basis. Whether you're a student, a business owner, or an employee, chances are good that you've had to open up Excel at some point to complete a task.
While Excel is a powerful tool, it can also be quite frustrating to use. If you're constantly having to stop and search for the right function or shortcut, it can quickly become a time-suck.
That's why we've compiled a list of our favorite Excel shortcuts. These tips will help you work smarter, not harder, so you can get your tasks done more quickly and efficiently.
If you need to move around a spreadsheet quickly, the tab key is your best friend. Simply press the tab key on your keyboard and Excel will move you one cell to the right. You can also hold down the shift key while pressing the tab key to move one cell to the left.
Once you've reached the end of a row, you can press the enter key to move down to the next row. This is a quick and easy way to move through a spreadsheet without having to use your mouse.
If you need to enter a series of data that follows a pattern, you can use Excel's AutoFill feature to save yourself some time. Simply enter the first few values in the series, then click and drag the small blue square in the bottom-right corner of the cell. Excel will automatically fill in the rest of the series for you.
If you need to insert a new cell, row, or column, you can do so quickly and easily with shortcut keys. To insert a cell, press CTRL + SHIFT + +. To insert a row, press CTRL + SHIFT + *. To insert a column, press CTRL + SHIFT + $.
The fill handle is a small square that appears in the bottom-right corner of a cell when you hover your mouse over it. This tool can be used to quickly copy data from one cell to another. Simply click and drag the fill handle to the cells you want to fill. Excel will automatically fill in the cells with the appropriate data.
If you need to quickly navigate to a specific cell, you can use the Go To feature. Simply press CTRL + G on your keyboard, then type in the address of the cell you want to go to. This is a quick and easy way to jump to any cell in a spreadsheet.
If you need to find and replace data in a spreadsheet, you can use the Find and Replace feature. Simply press CTRL + F on your keyboard, then type in the data you want to find. Excel will highlight all of the cells that contain that data. You can then type in the data you want to replace it with and Excel will make the changes for you.
If you need to sort data in a spreadsheet, you can use the Sort feature. Simply select the cells you want to sort, then press CTRL + SHIFT + S on your keyboard. Excel will bring up a Sort dialog box where you can choose how you want to sort the data.
If you need to filter data in a spreadsheet, you can use the Filter feature. Simply select the cells you want to filter, then press CTRL + SHIFT + L on your keyboard. Excel will bring up a Filter dialog box where you can choose how you want to filter the data.
If you need to keep data in view while you're scrolling through a spreadsheet, you can use the Freeze Panes feature. Simply select the cell you want to freeze, then press CTRL + SHIFT + F on your keyboard. Excel will keep the selected cell visible at all times, even when you scroll.
If you need to convert text to columns, you can use the Text to Columns feature. Simply select the cells you want to convert, then press CTRL + SHIFT + T on your keyboard. Excel will bring up a Text to Columns dialog box where you can choose how you want to convert the text.
If you need to perform a calculation based on a certain condition, you can use the If function. Simply type =IF( into a cell, then type in the condition you want to test. Excel will then perform the calculation you specify.
If you need to look up data in a spreadsheet, you can use the Vlookup function. Simply type =VLOOKUP( into a cell, then type in the value you want to look up. Excel will then search for that value and return the corresponding data.
If you need to look up data in a spreadsheet, you can use the Hlookup function. Simply type =HLOOKUP( into a cell, then type in the value you want to look up. Excel will then search for that value and return the corresponding data.
If you need to sum data in a spreadsheet, you can use the Sum function. Simply type =SUM( into a cell, then select the cells you want to sum. Excel will then add up the values in those cells and return the sum.
If you need to calculate an average in a spreadsheet, you can use the Average function. Simply type =AVERAGE( into a cell, then select the cells you want to average. Excel will then add up the values in those cells and return the average.
If you need to count data in a spreadsheet, you can use the Count function. Simply type =COUNT( into a cell, then select the cells you want to count. Excel will then count the number of cells that contain data and return the count.
If you need to find the maximum value in a spreadsheet, you can use the Max function. Simply type =MAX( into a cell, then select the cells you want to check. Excel will then find the largest value in those cells and return it.
If you need to find the minimum value in a spreadsheet, you can use the Min function. Simply type =MIN( into a cell, then select the cells you want to check. Excel will then find the smallest value in those cells and return it.
If you need to combine text from multiple cells into one cell, you can use the Concatenate function. Simply type =CONCATENATE( into a cell, then select the cells you want to combine. Excel will then combine the text from those cells into one cell.
If you need to extract text from the left side of a cell, you can use the Left function. Simply type =LEFT( into a cell, then select the cell you want to extract text from. Excel will then return the specified number of characters from the left side of the cell.
If you need to extract text from the right side of a cell, you can use the Right function. Simply type =RIGHT( into a cell, then select the cell you want to extract text from. Excel will then return the specified number of characters from the right side of the cell.
If you need to extract text from the middle of a cell, you can use the Mid function. Simply type
