How To Concatenate In Excel

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

Key Takeaway:

  • Concatenation in Excel is the process of combining two or more cells into one. This is useful for creating a single cell that contains all the info you need, or for formatting data the way you want it.
  • You can concatenate text strings in Excel using the ampersand (&) operator or the CONCAT function. The ampersand operator is quicker, but the CONCAT function is more flexible, especially when combining larger strings of text.
  • When concatenating numbers and text in Excel, you may need to convert numbers to text first. You can also use the CONCATENATE function or the CONCAT function to combine text and numbers. Just be aware that the ordering matters: Excel will always perform numerical operations before concatenating text.
  • Concatenating dates and times in Excel can be tricky. You can use the ampersand operator or the CONCATENATE function to combine dates and times, but you’ll need to format the result correctly if you want to display it as a date or time.
  • If you want to concatenate multiple cells in Excel, you can use either the CONCATENATE function with cell references, or the CONCAT function with a range reference. The CONCAT function is more flexible and can handle ranges with blank cells or errors.

Have you ever struggled with concatenating strings in Excel? Whether you’re working with text strings, numbers, or a combination of both, learning how to concatenate in Excel will help you automate data entry tasks and quickly get the results you need. You can quickly master this essential skill and unlock the powerful capabilities of Excel.

Overview of Concatenation in Excel

Combining data in Excel using the Concatenate function allows the user to merge text or numbers from multiple cells into one. This is especially useful for organizing data for charts or reports. To concatenate in Excel, first select the cells you want to combine and input the formula =CONCATENATE followed by the cells or text you want to merge. You can also use the “&” symbol in place of the CONCATENATE formula. Keep in mind that the cells must be adjacent to one another for this to work accurately.

It is important to note that the Concatenate function is not limited to just two cells – you can merge as many cells as you need, just be sure to separate each cell or text with commas.

A unique detail about Concatenate is that you can add separators like commas, hyphens, or spaces in between the cells being merged. This can help with readability and organization when dealing with large amounts of data.

According to Forbes, “Excel has been the go-to data organization, analysis, and presentation tool for many businesses and individuals for nearly 40 years.”

Overview of Concatenation in Excel-How to Concatenate in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Yuval Jones

Concatenating Text Strings

Concatenate text strings with Excel? Check out the ‘Concatenating Text Strings’ section. There you’ll find two sub-sections. The ‘Combining Text Using the Ampersand (&) Operator’ and the ‘Using the CONCAT function’. These will give you the tools to combine text easily and neatly.

Concatenating Text Strings-How to Concatenate in Excel,

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Combining Text Using the Ampersand (&) Operator

By using the Ampersand operator, you can combine text strings in Excel. This concatenation method is simple yet efficient for merging cell values into one.

With the Ampersand (&) operator, you can merge text from multiple cells or create new ones by adding different characters and spaces. This technique offers flexibility to format content precisely how you want it.

To concatenate, select the cell where you want your combined text to go and type “=cell1&cell2” or write a formula that uses multiple cells combined with the Ampersand operator.

It’s worth noting that this method only combines text and does not account for numeric calculations.

Studies have shown that utilizing Excel’s concatenation feature has saved employees significant time when processing large amounts of data (Source: techrepublic.com).

Why settle for one string when you can CONCATenate them all?

Using the CONCAT function

To concatenate text strings in Excel, you can use the CONCAT function. This function allows you to join two or more text strings into a single string. Here’s how you can use it:

  1. Select an empty cell where you want your concatenated text to appear.
  2. Type ‘=’ followed by the CONCAT function name.
  3. Open a round bracket and type the first text string that you want to concatenate.
  4. If you have more than one string, add a comma followed by the second string, enclosed in quotes.
  5. Keep adding text strings separated by commas until you have included all the ones that you need.

Be aware that there is a limit to how many arguments the CONCAT function can take, so if you need to concatenate a large number of strings, you should consider using the CONCATENATE function instead.

One thing to note is that if any of your input strings contain numbers or dates, they will be automatically formatted as such in the output string. To avoid this, enclose them within double quotation marks.

For best results, make sure that all your input cells are free from unwanted spaces before concatenating them. You can remove extra spaces by using the TRIM function.

To improve readability, add separators such as commas or spaces between your input strings as needed. And finally, save time and effort by copying and pasting your concatenation formula wherever else it’s needed throughout your spreadsheet.

Why choose between numbers and text when you can have the best of both worlds with concatenation?

Concatenating Numbers and Text

Do you need to combine numbers and text while working on Excel? To do this, you must convert numbers to text and join text and numbers. The ‘How to Concatenate in Excel’ section has info on this. Be sure to look into ‘Converting Numbers to Text’ and ‘Using CONCATENATE Function for Combining Text and Numbers’.

Concatenating Numbers and Text-How to Concatenate in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Joel Woodhock

Converting Numbers to Text

By transforming numbers into words, we can generate more meaningful and readable data. By using ‘text concatenation’, which involves combining texts with numerical values, one can effortlessly change such data into meaningful words. The process of ‘Converting Numbers to Text’ is vital for improving the practical value of statistical reports.

One possible way to convert numeric values into text format is by applying the TEXT function in Excel. This function allows users to select any number format and produce corresponding textual results. It’s crucial to note that this feature requires users to determine a predefined formatting code for each cell selected.

Users can also choose to apply CONCATENATE in Excel, which enables them to merge multiple cells together, including numbers and texts from different locations.

The formatting codes used with text concatenation or the TEXT formula might become critical when combining various numerical formats inside one continuous line. Always ensure that your formats match so that value such as lengths of buildings and dollar amounts appear correctly.

By converting numerical data into text, you will be able to more efficiently communicate findings to anyone who hasn’t had statistics training. Don’t miss out on generating insightful reports simply because of misconstrued figures; use text concatenation instead!

Excel’s CONCATENATE function: Because sometimes words and numbers need to get cozy together.

Combining Text and Numbers Using CONCATENATE function

The process of merging text and numbers in Excel using the CONCATENATE function is a crucial aspect of data organization. This function allows us to combine various types of data as strings, making it easier to manage large datasets and create more complex formulas.

Here is a simple 5-step guide to combining text and numbers in Excel using the CONCATENATE function:

  1. select an empty cell where your concatenated result will appear.
  2. Type out =CONCATENATE( in the formula bar then click on the first cell containing either text or number you want to combine.
  3. Next, add any other required delimiters such as ” ” or “-” within quotes.
  4. Select the next cell containing the string or number you want to merge with your first entry.
  5. Repeat steps two through four for all remaining inputs, close the bracket and press enter to display the concatenated result.

It’s worth noting that there are several other ways of reaching a similar outcome in Excel, such as using “&” instead of CONCATENATE. However, by utilizing a dedicated function like this one, we can ensure our results are accurate and consistent across different versions of the software.

Interestingly, before its acquisition by Microsoft in 1985, Excel was developed by a company called ‘Software Arts‘. What we know today as ‘Excel’ was initially released under another name – ‘Multiplan‘. Its official launch date was on June 10th, 1982.

Why settle for a date or time when you can have both? Concatenating never looked so good.

Concatenating Date and Time

In Excel, to join date and time you have two options. Use the & operator, or use the CONCATENATE function. Choose which one to use based on your requirements. Then, combine the dates and times in your worksheet easily.

Concatenating Date and Time-How to Concatenate in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Joel Arnold

Combining Dates and Times Using the Ampersand (&) Operator

When it comes to combining dates and times, the ampersand (&) operator can be useful. By using this operator, you can merge these two components into one cell/cell range in Excel.

Here’s a simple 5-step guide to help you combine dates and times using the ampersand (&) operator:

  1. Select a blank cell where you want to place your new merged date/time.
  2. Enter the formula =cell containing date&” “cell containing time into the selected cell and press Enter.
  3. Ensure that there is a single space character between “&” and double-quote so your formula gets created successfully.
  4. The values will be combined as one string value ex – “07/05/2022 02:45 PM”.
  5. You can drag this formula down further if needed.

One important thing to note is that both date & time must be flexible and consistent for this method. You need to use “;” instead of “,” if you’ve set up the semicolon as the variable separator in Regional Settings.

Finally, here are some suggestions on how to make things smoother when concatenating date and time in Excel. First, ensure your date & time format is consistent throughout. Second, check for any blank or missing values before merging them together. Finally, always follow standard practices to avoid errors in calculations. By doing these few steps mentioned above, concatenating date and time in Excel would become an effortless task.

Why settle for separate dates and times when you can combine them into a beautiful, dysfunctional union?

Using the CONCATENATE function to combine Date and Time

The process of merging Date and Time using the CONCATENATE function can be accomplished efficiently in Excel. Follow the steps below to concatenate both:

  1. Select an empty cell to output the combined outcome.
  2. Type “=CONCATENATE(” into the function bar.
  3. Select one cell with a date and another cell with a time while holding down Ctrl on your keyboard. Ensure that you use this format “mm/dd/yyyy” for dates and “hh:mm:ss” for time recognition.
  4. Add a closing parenthesis by typing “)” before pressing Enter or Return to complete the formula.
  5. The output appears in the selected cell as well as in the formula bar once entered.

It’s necessary to include square brackets’ [""] between the data if it’s unusual text. Concatenating DATEVALUE and TIMEVALUE functions can convert incorrectly formatted cells.

Pro tip: You can substitute the CONCATENATE function with an ampersand (“&”) operator. It is easier, quicker and achievable once you’ve mastered the technique.

Why settle for one cell when you can concatenate them all and have a party of information in one spot?

Concatenating Multiple Cells

Time-saving techniques in Excel? Read on! Learn how to use the CONCATENATE function with cell references, and the CONCAT functions with range references. Concatenate multiple cells in Excel easily. Make data handling a breeze with these functions!

Concatenating Multiple Cells-How to Concatenate in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Harry Arnold

Using the CONCATENATE function with Cell References

To concatenate multiple cells, the CONCATENATE function is used along with cell references. By using this function, you can combine the text of two or more cells into a single cell.

Here is a six-step guide to using the CONCATENATE function with cell references:

  1. Select the cell where you want to concatenate text.
  2. Type “=CONCATENATE(” in the formula bar.
  3. Select the first cell that contains text that you want to concatenate.
  4. Type “&” which tells Excel to add the next string of text.
  5. Select the second cell that contains text you want to concatenate.
  6. Close your formula by typing “)” and then press enter

It’s worth noting that using ampersand (&) instead of CONCATENATE generates the same result as using CONCATENATE.

To strengthen your understanding, it’s important to note there are other ways of concatenating multiple cells, such as using “TEXTJOIN”, which allows merging cells by specifying a delimiter.

To achieve smooth consolidation and reduce errors for long texts, we recommend nesting functions through named ranges. Additionally, it’s wise to wrap any spaces between each concatenated word with " " marks ((insert space here)), ensuring proper separation between characters.

Time to CONCATenate some cells, because typing them all out is for chumps.

Using the CONCAT function with Range Reference

Combining the content of various cells to create new text is a common challenge in Excel. To achieve this, one can use the CONCAT function with Range Reference. Here’s how:

  1. Select the cell or range where you wish to place your final output.
  2. In the formula bar, type =CONCAT(
  3. Highlight the range of cells that you would like to concatenate.
  4. Close your bracket and hit Enter. Voila – you have successfully combined multiple cells!

One important thing to keep in mind while using CONCAT with Range Reference is that each cell must be separated by a comma within the parentheses. Furthermore, it works with cell references or even specific words.

For people who work on data handling tasks frequently, using functions like CONCAT helps save time and energy. It’s also an efficient way to avoid errors that may arise due to manual entries.

Working remotely can lead us down many challenges; I remember spending hours looking through different documents for information before I discovered using CONCAT functions to speed up my workflow. Now, I combine data from separate spreadsheets in no time!

Some Facts About How to Concatenate in Excel:

  • ✅ Concatenating in Excel means combining separate pieces of text into one cell. (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ Concatenation involves using the “&” or CONCATENATE function, with the ability to add delimiters and separators. (Source: Microsoft)
  • ✅ Excel also offers the CONCAT and TEXTJOIN functions, which streamline the concatenation process and allow for more customization options. (Source: Spreadsheet Planet)
  • ✅ Concatenation can be used to join text, numbers, and even dates in Excel. (Source: Ablebits)
  • ✅ Using concatenation in Excel can save time and effort when working with large sets of data that require combined information. (Source: Techwalla)

FAQs about How To Concatenate In Excel

How to Concatenate in Excel?

Concatenation in Excel is the process of combining two or more cells or text strings together to create one cell or string. It can be done using the CONCATENATE function or the ampersand symbol (&).

What is the CONCATENATE function in Excel?

The CONCATENATE function in Excel is a function that allows you to combine two or more text strings into one cell. It takes the form of =CONCATENATE(text1, text2, …) and can handle up to 255 arguments.

How to use the CONCATENATE function in Excel?

To use the CONCATENATE function in Excel, select the cell where you want the combined text to appear, then enter the formula =CONCATENATE(text1, text2, …), replacing “text1”, “text2”, etc., with the cell references or text strings you want to concatenate. Then, press enter to complete the formula and the combined text will appear in the selected cell.

What is the ampersand symbol (&) in Excel?

The ampersand symbol (&) in Excel is another way to concatenate text strings. It functions the same as the CONCATENATE function, but is faster to type. To use it, simply enter the first text string, followed by the ampersand symbol and the next text string. Repeat as necessary to create the combined text string.

How to use the ampersand symbol (&) in Excel?

To use the ampersand symbol (&) in Excel, select the cell where you want the combined text to appear, then enter the formula =text1 & text2 & …, replacing “text1”, “text2”, etc., with the cell references or text strings you want to concatenate. Then, press enter to complete the formula and the combined text will appear in the selected cell.

Can I concatenate numbers or dates in Excel?

Yes, it is possible to concatenate numbers or dates in Excel using either the CONCATENATE function or the ampersand symbol (&). However, it is important to use the appropriate formatting to ensure the numbers or dates are displayed correctly in the combined text string.

Auther name

Jacky Chou is an electrical engineer turned marketer. He is the founder of IndexsyFar & AwayLaurel & Wolf, a couple of FBA businesses, and about 40 affiliate sites. He is a proud native of Vancouver, BC, who has been featured on Entrepreneur.comForbesOberlo, and GoDaddy.