The Top 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts For Merging Cells

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

Key Takeaway:

  • Excel keyboard shortcuts increase efficiency: Merging cells is a common task in Excel, and using keyboard shortcuts like Alt+H&M can save time and make the process more efficient. Learning the top 10 Excel keyboard shortcuts for merging cells can help users streamline their workflow and improve productivity.
  • Keyboard shortcuts simplify tasks: Keyboard shortcuts provide a quick and easy way to perform common tasks in Excel, such as selecting all cells with the Alt+H&A shortcut or clearing cells with the Alt+H+C shortcut. By using keyboard shortcuts, users can simplify their work and focus on more important tasks.
  • Keyboard shortcuts improve accuracy: When merging cells or performing other tasks in Excel, using keyboard shortcuts can help prevent errors and ensure accuracy. For example, the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar can be used to select an entire column, eliminating the risk of selecting the wrong cells manually.

Are you a fan of merging cells in Excel but struggle with identifying the right shortcut? Well, fear not! Here are the top 10 shortcuts that you need to know to do the job quickly and efficiently.

Top 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Merging Cells:

To excel in using the top 10 Excel keyboard shortcuts for merging cells (Alt+H&M, Alt+H&A, Alt+H&C, Ctrl+Shift+, Ctrl+-, Ctrl+1, Alt+H&B, Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar, Ctrl+Spacebar, and Alt+H+O+I), you must know their individual advantages.

Let’s quickly look at these shortcuts and see how they can help you save time and simplify your working process with merged cells in Excel.

Top 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Merging Cells:-The Top 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Merging Cells,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by David Duncun

Alt+H&M: Shortcut for merging cells.

Using the Alt+H&M keyboard shortcut is an efficient way to merge cells in Excel. This shortcut saves time and enables the user to quickly merge multiple cells while working on a spreadsheet.

To use the Alt+H&M shortcut for merging cells, follow these three simple steps:

  1. Select the cells that you wish to combine.
  2. Press and hold down the “Alt” key, then press “H”. Release both keys. This will open the “Home” tab.
  3. Press “M” to activate the merge cells option. The selected cells will now be merged into one larger cell.

It’s important to note that this shortcut should not be used if you have data in any of the selected cells. If this is the case, you may lose some of your data during the merge.

An alternative method for merging cells in Excel can be found by exploring different tabs within Excel’s menu options. However, utilizing keyboard shortcuts such as Alt+H&M provides an easy, fast and effective method when working with a large spreadsheet.

Pro Tip: Using keyboard shortcuts like Alt+H&M can drastically improve your efficiency when working on spreadsheets. Take some time to learn more shortcuts and save time on monotonous tasks!

Feeling lazy? Alt+H&A will select all cells for you, so you can take that much-needed nap.

Alt+H&A: Shortcut for selecting all cells.

When it comes to selecting all cells in Excel, the Alt+H&A shortcut can be quite handy. By using this shortcut, users can quickly select and merge all cells in a worksheet. This keyboard shortcut saves time and effort, especially when working with larger data sets.

Below is a table that illustrates how to merge cells using the Alt+H&A keyboard shortcut:

Shortcut KeyAction
Alt+H+ASelect all cells

It’s important to note that while this shortcut does select all cells, users still need to manually select the merging option from the ‘Alignment’ dropdown menu.

To further enhance productivity in Excel, consider exploring other keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C for copying content or Ctrl+S for saving work.

Take advantage of these shortcuts to make your work more efficient and organized. Don’t let the fear of missing out on these time-saving tools deter you from trying them out today.

Goodbye, old data! Alt+H+C clears cells faster than a bottle of bleach on laundry day.

Alt+H+C: Shortcut for clearing cells.

When it comes to clearing cells in Excel, the Alt+H+C shortcut is incredibly useful. This shortcut allows users to quickly delete the contents of a cell, making it easy to start fresh without having to manually remove text or formulas.

To use the Alt+H+C shortcut for clearing cells, follow these six simple steps:

  1. Select the cell or range of cells you want to clear.
  2. Press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard.
  3. Release the Alt key, then press the H key followed by the C key.
  4. The contents of your selected cells will be cleared.
  5. If you want to clear formatting as well as content, use the “Clear All” option instead (Alt+H+E+A).
  6. Save time and minimize clicking by memorizing this shortcut!

One additional benefit of using shortcuts like Alt+H+C for clearing cells is that it can help reduce strain on your wrist. By minimizing mouse clicks and relying more on keyboard commands, you can avoid repetitive stress injuries.

Don’t miss out on this handy shortcut that can save you valuable time with Excel tasks! Give it a try today and see how it can streamline your workflow.

Inserting cells is no longer a hassle with Ctrl+Shift+:. It’s like adding a new room to your Excel mansion.

Ctrl+Shift+: Shortcut for inserting cells.

To insert cells in Excel using a keyboard shortcut, use Ctrl+Shift+:. This shortcut allows you to insert one or more cells at a time without using the mouse.

To use this shortcut:

  1. Select the cell or range of cells where you want to insert new ones.
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+.
  3. Select the desired option from the Insert menu that appears (shift right, shift down, or entire row/column).

This shortcut can save you time and increase productivity when working with large spreadsheets.

Pro Tip: Remember that this shortcut only applies to inserting new cells into an existing sheet, not merging them together. Use caution when using this command to avoid accidental loss of information.

I guess Ctrl+- is Excel’s way of saying ‘out with the old, in with the new’ when deleting cells.

Ctrl+-: Shortcut for deleting cells.

When working with Excel spreadsheets, it’s important to be aware of keyboard shortcuts that can make life much easier. One such shortcut is the ‘Ctrl+-‘ command, which can quickly delete cells in a spreadsheet.

To use this command, follow these 5 straightforward steps:

  1. Select the cells you want to delete.
  2. Press ‘Ctrl+-‘.
  3. A menu will appear asking if you want to “shift cells left” or “shift cells up”. Select the option best suited to your needs.
  4. Click ‘OK’.
  5. The selected cells will then be deleted.

In addition to being a quick way to delete individual cells, this shortcut can also be used to remove entire rows or columns from a sheet. Remember that it’s always good practice to save your work before using any complex or potentially destructive commands.

It’s worth noting that deleting large numbers of cells at once can significantly alter the layout of your spreadsheet and may require some additional formatting work as a result.

Interestingly, the ‘Ctrl+-‘ shortcut was actually introduced in Excel 2007 as part of Microsoft’s efforts to improve user accessibility and streamline commonly used commands. Since then, it has become an essential tool for many Excel users who need to manipulate data quickly and efficiently.

Format your cells like royalty with the Ctrl+1 shortcut, because why settle for being a basic Excel user?

Ctrl+1: Shortcut for opening cell format.

Access the Cell Formatting menu with just one shortcut by using a Semantic NLP variation of ‘Ctrl+1: Shortcut for opening cell format’. Manipulate the font, alignment, borders, and patterns of your Excel cells faster than ever before.

ShortcutDescription
Semantic NLP Variation of ‘Ctrl+1’: Shortcut for opening cell format.Access the Cell Formatting menu quickly to edit font, alignment, borders, and patterns.

Take advantage of this keyboard shortcut to adjust your spreadsheet with even more precision. Don’t miss out on using this tool to improve your workflow and make productivity soar.

Remember that there’s no limit to how much you can learn about Excel! Keep exploring new tricks and techniques to optimize your spreadsheets.

Give your boring cells a snazzy border with just a few clicks using the Alt+H+B shortcut.

Alt+H+B: Shortcut for adding borders to cells.

The keyboard shortcut, which is an efficient way to add borders to cells in Excel, is accessible using a combination of keys. The following guide explains how to use this shortcut effectively.

  1. Press Alt + H
  2. Release both keys and press B
  3. Choose your preferred border option from the drop-down list

It’s that simple! With a few clicks, you can add borders seamlessly without having to navigate through Excel menus.

This keyboard shortcut not only saves time, but it also ensures that the right border style has been correctly implemented.

Alt+H+B is just one example of how Microsoft Excel simplifies spreadsheet management. Experiment with different shortcuts and customizations, and you’ll be surprised how much simpler tasks become without extensive menu navigation.

If you want to streamline your productivity and make more use of Excel features, consider researching additional keyboard shortcuts beyond those listed in this article.

Mastering keyboard shortcuts takes repetitive practice over time, but once they’re memorized, they’ll save you many hours over the long run.

Who needs a gym membership when you can get a full workout just by using Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar to select an entire column in Excel?

Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar: Shortcut for selecting an entire column.

When working with Excel, it’s essential to know how to quickly select an entire column. One efficient way of doing this is by utilizing the Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar keyboard shortcut.

Here is a 5-Step Guide on using this shortcut for selecting an entire column:

  1. Open your Excel worksheet and navigate to the column you want to select.
  2. Click on any cell within that column to make sure it’s active.
  3. Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys simultaneously.
  4. Press the Spacebar key once
  5. The entire column should now be highlighted in blue, indicating that it has been selected.

Using this shortcut can help improve efficiency and save time when working with large amounts of data in Excel. It eliminates the need for tedious scrolling or clicking of cells one by one.

One unique detail about utilizing the Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar keyboard shortcut is that it can also be used to select an entire row in Excel. Instead of navigating to a column, click on any cell within a row that you want to select, hold down Ctrl + Shift keys simultaneously, then press Spacebar once.

Interestingly, this keyboard shortcut was introduced in Microsoft Office 2003. It’s still relevant and widely used to date as an efficient way of selecting rows or columns in Excel worksheets. Knowing this shortcut will enhance proficiency when using Excel as a productivity tool.

Like a game of musical chairs, Ctrl+Spacebar selects the lucky winner – the entire row!

Ctrl+Spacebar: Shortcut for selecting an entire row.

To select an entire row in Excel, use the shortcut ‘Ctrl+Spacebar‘. This will highlight the entire row of the current cell.

Description
Shortcut for selecting an entire rowPress ‘Ctrl+Spacebar’ to select the entire row of the active cell.

Another useful shortcut is ‘Shift+Spacebar‘, which selects the entire column of the active cell.

A true fact is that Microsoft Excel was first released for Macintosh systems in September 1985 before being released for Windows in November 1987. (Source: Microsoft)

Make your cells feel really big or really small with Alt+H+O+I – it’s like a workout for your spreadsheet.

Alt+H+O+I: Shortcut for changing cell size.

Changing cell size in Excel becomes easy with the ‘Alt+H+O+I’ shortcut. By using this keyboard shortcut, users can adjust the height or width of a cell to their preferred measurement.

Here is a simple 6-step guide to use the ‘Alt+H+O+I’ shortcut for changing cell size in Excel:

  1. Select the desired cells or columns that need resizing.
  2. Navigate to Home Tab and click on the Format option.
  3. From the drop-down menu, select Row Height or Column Width, as per your requirement.
  4. The Row Height/Column Width dialog box will appear. Enter the desired numerical value of either row height or column width and click OK.
  5. Once you have entered your preferred size measurement, click on OK. Your selected cells will change their respective dimensions to match those you have defined earlier through the process.

It’s important to note that if a user selects multiple cells with different widths and heights, then only the first selected cell’s dimensions will be applied via this process.

When working with large sets of data and formatting within Microsoft Excel, adjusting cell sizes regularly is often needed for proper readjustment of text and graphics. By utilizing Alt+H+O+I keyboard shortcuts, Excel enthusiasts can very easily accommodate changes throughout an entire spreadsheet without having to go through many tedious processes.

Suggestions:

  1. Try using percentage values while adjusting row heights/column widths rather than fixed row heights /column widths wherever possible – it could save time.
  2. Ensure that every time when adjustments are made across multiple rows/columns use uniform dimensions for each instance.

These suggestions are helpful as giving percentage value/sizing equals automatic formatting based on dynamic content instead of typing a definite pixel volume that might not work consistently throughout your worksheet. Grid approach gives clarity and consistency throughout all sheets in any given Excel file.

Five Facts About The Top 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Merging Cells:

  • ✅ Merging cells in Excel is a quick way to consolidate data and improve the readability of a worksheet. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ Shortcut keys can be used to merge cells in Excel, with Alt + H + M + M being the most commonly used. (Source: TechCommunity)
  • ✅ Other keyboard shortcuts for merging cells in Excel include Ctrl + Shift + Plus Sign and Ctrl + Shift + &. (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ Merging cells can cause data loss in Excel, as it only retains the data in the top-left cell. (Source: Ablebits)
  • ✅ Merging cells in Excel can be used for formatting purposes, such as creating headers and titles for a worksheet. (Source: Corporate Finance Institute)

FAQs about The Top 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts For Merging Cells

What are the Top 10 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Merging Cells?

The top 10 Excel keyboard shortcuts for merging cells are:

  1. Alt + H + M + M – Merge cells
  2. Alt + H + M + A – Merge cells across
  3. Alt + H + M + C – Merge cells and center
  4. Ctrl + Shift + & – Apply outline border to selected cells
  5. Alt + H + B + A – Apply or remove bold formatting
  6. Alt + H + B + U – Apply or remove underline formatting
  7. Alt + H + B + I – Apply or remove italic formatting
  8. Ctrl + 1 – Open the Format Cells dialog box
  9. Ctrl + Shift + F – Apply the General format with two decimal places
  10. Ctrl + Shift + P – Insert page break

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.