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Written by Jacky Chou

19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts For Formatting Cells & Data

Key Takeaway:

  • Excel keyboard shortcuts for formatting cells can save time: With keyboard shortcuts for bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, clear formatting, cell alignment, and cell borders, users can format cells and text quickly and efficiently. This is particularly useful when dealing with large data sets.
  • Formatting data with Excel keyboard shortcuts is efficient: By using shortcuts for number, currency, date, and time formatting, users can apply formatting to data swiftly and prevent errors from manual formatting. Conditional formatting shortcuts are also helpful in visualizing trends and patterns in data.
  • Autofill shortcuts ease manual work: Keyboard shortcuts for copying/pasting formatting and filling formulas and series can save hours of manual work. Users can quickly copy formatting, create series, and fill formulas when working with repetitive data.

Worried about formatting cells & data in Excel quickly and accurately? You’re in luck! This article reveals 19 essential keyboard shortcuts that will make your job easier. Learn how to save time and efficiently manage your Excel spreadsheets.

Formatting Cells

Format cells quickly and easily in Excel with keyboard shortcuts! Explore multiple text formatting methods. Shortcuts for bold, italic, and underline. Strike through and clear formatting too. Plus, shortcuts for cell alignment and cell borders. Get it done!

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Adam Arnold

Shortcut for Bold, Italic and Underline

To make your text stand out, you can apply formatting such as bold, italic or underline. Here are the 4 facts about using shortcuts for formatting cells:

  1. To make your text bold quickly, use the combination of keys “Ctrl+B“.
  2. For italics, you can press “Ctrl+I“.
  3. To underline your text, use “Ctrl+U” command.
  4. By using these shortcut keys frequently, it helps ease and accelerate the formatting process.

It’s important to remember that overusing bold or other forms of highlighting can be distracting and take away from the overall impact of your message.

In addition to using these shortcuts, there are several other options for font formatting within Excel. You can adjust font size, color, and style according to the content and theme of your data.

Don’t forget that proficiency with keyboard shortcuts like these allows you to work more efficiently and accurately in Excel! Don’t miss out on enhancing your productivity; try using these shortcuts today!

Give your text a beating with just one shortcut: Strikethrough and Clear Formatting.

Shortcut for Strikethrough and Clear Formatting

To format cells in Excel, you can use a variety of keyboard shortcuts that increase speed and efficiency. One such shortcut allows you to strike through text or clear formatting from selected cells in a quick and straightforward way.

Guide:

  1. Select the cell or cells whose formatting you want to change.
  2. To apply the strikethrough format, press "Ctrl" + "5". To remove any applied formatting, including strikethrough, press "Ctrl" + "Spacebar".
  3. Alternatively, to clear all formatting from selected cells, including strikethrough, background colors and font styles, press "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "N".

Additionally, it is important to note that applying the strikethrough format can be especially useful in tracking changes or updates made to a spreadsheet.

A colleague once shared how they’ve used this shortcut when working on a team project with multiple collaborators. They would highlight their specific contributions with a strikethrough in one color while other colleagues would add comments in different colors. This helped ensure efficient communication between team members and timely completion of the project.

Perfectly aligned cells and borders make me feel organized, like Marie Kondo sorting out my Excel spreadsheet.

Shortcut for Cell Alignment and Cell Borders

To adjust the position and borders of cells in Excel, use these efficient shortcuts.

  1. Press ‘Ctrl + 1‘ to open the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box.
  2. To align text vertically within a cell, select the cell(s) and press ‘Alt + H + A + V‘.
  3. For horizontal alignment, select the cell(s) and press ‘Alt + H + A + H‘.
  4. For top border, select the cell(s) and press ‘Alt + H + B + T‘.
  5. For bottom border, select the cell(s) and press ‘Alt + H + B + B‘.
  6. To add inner borders, first select the cells desired and then press ‘Ctrl+Shift+_

You can customize your format with ease using these shortcuts.

Pro Tip: Use these quick navigation tools for formatting in combination with selection techniques such as row/column select or extend formulas to save precious time! Making your data look pretty is like putting lipstick on a pig, but these formatting shortcuts will give you a more attractive pig.

Formatting Data

Format your data quickly and easily!

19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts can help you – do Number and Currency Formatting, Date and Time Formatting, and even Conditional Formatting. Learn these shortcuts and boost your efficiency!

Formatting Data-19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells & Data,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Adam Duncun

Shortcut for Number and Currency Formatting

Numbers and currency formatting can be done quickly through Excel keyboard shortcuts. Here’s a brief guide on how you can format data with ease:

  1. Select the cells you want to format.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + 1 for the number format dialogue box.
  3. Select the category from the dialogue box, such as ‘Currency‘.
  4. Select the desired formatting options, such as decimal places or currency symbol.
  5. Press Enter or click OK to apply the formatting.

For further customization and precision, you can use other Excel keyboard shortcuts for formatting cells and data. These shortcuts allow you to adjust a cell’s alignment, font size, borders, and more without having to use the mouse.

To excel in your work process and save time, it is essential to learn these shortcuts. Not only does it allow faster formatting but also makes Excel experience enjoyable.

In previous versions of Microsoft Office before 2007 displayed “-1234”. When you will open .xlsx file in those versions then number “1234” displayed as “4543210”. Because before version 2007 Excel numbed backward compatibility.

Who needs a date when you have Excel to format it for you? Time is money and these shortcuts save me both.

Shortcut for Date and Time Formatting

Shortcuts for Date and Time Formatting can help you to save time while formatting cells with dates and times. Here’s a simple three-step guide to get started:

  1. Select the cell/s that contain dates or times.
  2. Apply the desired date or time format by pressing “Ctrl+Shift+#” for date formatting, “Ctrl+Shift+@” for time formatting, and “Ctrl+Shift+!” for numeric formats.
  3. Press “Enter,” and you’re done!

It’s essential to note that the date and time formats vary according to your region, so choose accordingly.

When dealing with large amounts of data, it can be helpful to use these shortcuts instead of individually applying the format to each cell manually. They are most useful in situations where precision is necessary.

To avoid confusion, use consistently formatted dates throughout your document. Utilizing the same format ensures clear communication among colleagues or clients who may view or edit your data.

Make your data stand out like a sore thumb with the shortcut for conditional formatting – because who doesn’t love a little color-coding chaos?

Shortcut for Conditional Formatting

Conditional Formatting allows you to highlight cells based on certain criteria. Here is a guide to a useful trick.

  1. Select the range of cells that you wish to conditionally format.
  2. Press Alt + H + L + S (in sequence, not all at once).
  3. Choose the formatting rule you want from the dialogue box.
  4. Set the parameters for the chosen rule and hit OK.

This shortcut ensures that you can quickly apply conditional formatting without navigating through the menus in Excel.

Conditional Formatting isn’t just limited to cell colors! You can also use this tool to create data bars, color scales and icon sets. This hack can make it much easier to visualize your data and spot trends.

Did you know that Conditional Formatting was first introduced in Excel 1997? The feature has undergone much development since then, but its core functionality remains a vital part of Excel’s capabilities today.

Autofilling data has never been easier, but unfortunately, it won’t do your taxes for you.

Autofill

Save time and effort! Utilize ‘19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells & Data‘. Quickly autofill repetitive data with these simple time-saving techniques. Subsections include: Shortcut for Copying and Pasting Formatting, and Shortcut for Filling Formulas and Series. Streamline your work process with these efficient tips.

Autofill-19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells & Data,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by James Arnold

Shortcut for Copying and Pasting Formatting

When it comes to formatting cells and data, there is a certain shortcut that comes in handy – Copying and Pasting Formatting.

Here’s a 3-step guide on how to use this shortcut effectively:

  1. Select the cell from which you want to copy the formatting.
  2. Press CTRL + SHIFT + C on your keyboard to copy the formatting.
  3. Select the cell(s) where you want to paste the formatting, and press CTRL + SHIFT + V.

It’s that simple! This shortcut can save you a lot of time while formatting your Excel sheets.

In addition to copying and pasting formatting, it’s important to note that this shortcut only copies over cell formatting like font style, size, color, etc., and not actual data or formulas.

Incorporating helpful shortcuts like this into your workflow can make a big difference in productivity. For instance, an accountant by using this shortcut method used to complete his work faster than others, resulting in providing efficient service.

In summary, mastering these types of Excel Keyboard Shortcuts can truly be a game-changer in terms of improving efficiency when working with spreadsheets.

Just when you thought Excel couldn’t get any more addictive, here’s a shortcut for filling formulas and series that’ll have you bingeing on spreadsheets all night long.

Shortcut for Filling Formulas and Series

To quickly fill formulas and series in Excel, you can use a shortcut that saves time and simplifies your workflow. By using this technique, you can fill data or formulas across multiple rows or columns in a few clicks.

  1. Highlight the cell(s) that contain the formula you want to fill.
  2. On PC keyboards press Ctrl + D for Windows or Command + D on Macs. Alternatively, on both devices, you can use the mouse to drag and select all cells that need filling across the row or column
  3. If you want to continue filling down, press Ctrl+ Enter (Windows) or Command + Return (Mac). Or do click ‘Edit’ > ‘Fill’ > ‘Down’.If you want to continue horizontally, click ‘Edit’ > ‘Fill’ > ‘Right’.
  4. You will see the input repeated in each of highlighted cells or any other data following it applied simultaneously
  5. The Semicolon (; button) after pressing F4 key once again toggles between relative and absolute references for every cell filled
  6. The escape key can be used to end the auto-fill process

With these shortcuts, managing lengthy spreadsheet tasks becomes more efficient. It eliminates the need for manual copying and pasting into many cells while ensuring accuracy at every stage.

To prevent errors while working with Autofill with your keyboard:

  • Always double-check the populated elements are accurate by taking a quick glance at them before moving forward with another activity
  • Take note of absolute references versus relative references when completing copy paste of formulas
  • Practice until mastering how Autofill works in different scenarios

Mastering Autofill shortens repetitive tasks within Excel spreadsheets significantly. Save time and effort by applying these shortcuts today.

Get lost in your data like a sailor lost at sea? Use these navigation shortcuts to find your way back to shore.

Navigation

Efficiently maneuver through your Excel worksheets and cell ranges with these keyboard shortcuts. They reduce time and effort, thus improving productivity while managing data. Sub-sections below show the shortcuts for navigating worksheets and cells/ranges. Quick and easy!

Navigation-19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells & Data,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Adam Woodhock

Shortcut for Navigating Worksheets

To swiftly move around different worksheets in Excel, you can use a series of keyboard shortcuts. Knowing these shortcuts will speed up your work and make it more efficient.

Here is a 5-step guide to navigate between worksheets using keyboard:

  1. Press CTRL + Page Down to go to the next worksheet on the right.
  2. Press CTRL + Page Up to go to the previous worksheet on the left.
  3. Press CTRL+ SHIFT + F6 to switch between active or opened workbooks quickly.
  4. To jump to a specific worksheet, press and hold down ALT and then press a number that corresponds with that sheet’s position in the workbook. For example, ALT+2 will take you directly to Sheet 2.
  5. Lastly, if you have multiple windows open for one workbook, click CTRL+F6 to cycle through them faster.

It may be worth noting alternate ways of achieving these actions such as drag-and-drop method but using keys is quicker.

By optimizing sheet navigation in Excel, time spent between sheets reduces more than half, allowing for quick transitions while working with data.

Don’t risk being slowed down by not knowing your shortcut keys. Start mastering them today!


Get ahead in Excel by mastering navigation shortcuts – your fingers will thank you later.

Shortcut for Navigating Cells and Ranges

Navigating between cells and ranges in Excel can be time-consuming when done manually. However, there are efficient shortcuts you can use to save your time and effort.

Here’s a quick 3-step guide to mastering the maneuvering of cells and ranges:

  1. Use the arrow keys: Pressing the four arrow keys on the keyboard allows you to move across different cells without clicking or dragging.
  2. Jump to the edge: By holding down either Ctrl or Shift while pressing an arrow key, you can jump quickly to the first or last cell within a range in that direction.
  3. Select multiple cells at once: With Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys shortcut, you can select multiple contiguous or non-contiguous cells in any direction.

It’s worth noting that by using the mouse, moving selections over long distances might lead to miscalculations as it only moves in increments of a pixel. Conversely, Excel shortcuts require no visual confirmation and work with precision.

In addition to these shortcuts, there are other unique navigational options available such as Page Up/Down buttons which allow for effortless vertical navigation along long columns without scrolling continually.

Excel has always been famous for its intuitive user interface – but did you know that its name originated from “extended calculation”? Excel was initially launched, released way back in 1985 by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates. The software version diverged from those used before it, mainly due to bundled support of Graphical User Interface (GUI) & WYSIWYG interface which made it powerful yet easier to use than anything seen before.

Five Facts About 19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells & Data:

  • ✅ Excel keyboard shortcuts can make formatting and managing data much faster and efficient. (Source: Lifewire)
  • ✅ By pressing Alt+H+V+C, you can quickly center cell contents in Excel. (Source: Microsoft)
  • ✅ The shortcut Ctrl+9 can hide a selected row in Excel. (Source: GCFLearnFree)
  • ✅ By pressing Ctrl+Shift+4, you can format a number into a currency format in Excel. (Source: Alphr)
  • ✅ Learning and using Excel keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase productivity and save time. (Source: TechRepublic)

FAQs about 19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts For Formatting Cells & Data

What are the 19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells & Data?

The 19 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells & Data are:

  • Ctrl + 1: Opens the Format Cells dialog box
  • Ctrl + Shift + L: Applies Filter to the selected table or range
  • Ctrl + Shift + &: Applies the outline border to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + _: Applies the bottom border to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + ~: Applies the General format to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + $: Applies the Currency format to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + %: Applies the Percentage format to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + ^: Applies the Scientific format to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + #: Applies the Date format with the day, month, and year to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + @: Applies the Time format with hour and minute to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + !: Applies the Comma format to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + Shift + *: Selects the current region around the active cell
  • Ctrl + D: Copies and pastes the formula from the cell above to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + R: Copies and pastes the formula from the cell to the left to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + B: Applies bold formatting to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + I: Applies italic formatting to the selected cells
  • Ctrl + U: Applies underline formatting to the selected cells
  • Alt + H + B: Applies a thin bottom border to the selected cells
  • Alt + H + 0: Hides the selected column

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