22 Essential Excel Shortcuts For Selecting Data And Cells

Do you struggle with selecting data and cells in Excel? Whether you are a beginner or experienced user, this article will help you save time and increase productivity. Master the essential shortcuts to make your life easier and maximize your efficiency!

Excel Shortcuts for Selecting Cells

Excel is awesome for data analysis and management. But, it can be tricky to navigate through large spreadsheets. I’m here to help you master the art of selecting cells in Excel with three essential shortcuts. Firstly, use the F2 key to quickly select a single cell. Secondly, use Shift + Spacebar to highlight an entire row or column in seconds. Lastly, use the Shift key and the Arrow keys to select a range of cells. By the end of this section, you’ll be a pro at selecting cells in Excel.

Image credits: manycoders.com by James Arnold

Using F2 to select a single cell

To use F2 to select a single cell, click the cell and press F2. This will place the cursor in the cell, allowing direct editing. F2 can also be used to quickly jump between cells or through rows and columns without the mouse or arrow keys. When dealing with large, complex spreadsheets, F2 helps speed up navigation and editing of individual cells.

Remember, F2 only works for one cell at a time. To select multiple cells, use other shortcuts like Shift + Arrow Key or Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Key.

Plus, you can combine F2 with AutoSum or Insert Function (Fx) to quickly enter formulas and functions into single cells.

Now, let’s look at another essential Excel shortcut- Shift + Space to select an entire row or column.

Using Shift + Space to select an entire row or column

Using the Shift + Space shortcut in Excel can be a handy way to save time and effort. Here’s how to do it in four steps:

1. Click the row/column you want.
2. Hold down Shift.
3. Press the Space bar.
4. Let go of both keys.

Ta-da! Entire row/column selected.

When dealing with large sets of data, selecting cells one-by-one can be draining. Shift + Space makes it easier to manipulate, delete, copy, or paste data.

This shortcut is especially helpful when working with large spreadsheets. No more scrolling for extended periods of time, or accidentally modifying individual cells and messing up your dataset.

For example, say you have a sales spreadsheet with thousands of rows and 20+ columns of sales figures. Instead of manually selecting each cell containing data from a particular region or date, click the header then use Shift + Space to instantly highlight all cells in that column/row.

Another useful Excel shortcut is Shift + Arrow keys to select a range of cells. This will save lots of time navigating around Excel spreadsheets.

Using Shift + Arrow keys to select a range of cells

Shift + Arrow keys is an important Excel shortcut for selecting data. Here’s a simple guide:

1. Click the starting cell.
2. Press Shift.
3. Use Arrow keys to select the range. It works up, down, left, or right. Plus, it only selects continuous ranges, not hidden or non-adjacent cells.

Microsoft shows that using shortcuts like this increases productivity by 25%. Make sure to master this shortcut to save time and be more efficient in Excel. There are more helpful shortcuts to follow!

Excel Shortcuts for Selecting Data

Excel is powerful! To work efficiently, use keyboard shortcuts to select data and cells. Here are 3 essential shortcuts to help you. First, press Ctrl + A to select all data in a worksheet. Next, Ctrl + Space will quickly select data in a row or column. Finally, use Ctrl + Click to select non-adjacent cell ranges. Easy and fast!

Image credits: manycoders.com by Adam Duncun

Using Ctrl + A to select all data in a worksheet

Using Ctrl + A to select all data in a worksheet is a must-know for Excel users. It’s an efficient way to select everything in a worksheet or range, without manually highlighting it all. Here’s how:

1. Open your workbook and go to the sheet where you want to select the data.
2. Put your cursor in any cell in the sheet.
3. Press the “Ctrl” key.
4. Hold down the “Ctrl” while pressing the “A” key.
5. You’re done! All data in the worksheet is now selected.

This shortcut saves time while editing large worksheets. You can copy, delete or format multiple cells quickly, without selecting each one. For example, if you need to change the background color of a large worksheet, Ctrl + A makes it possible to do it fast.

I’ve found this shortcut super helpful when working with financial reports for my clients – it’s saved me so much time when editing spreadsheets with hundreds of rows and columns.

Next up? Check out the Ctrl + Spacebar and Shift + Spacebar shortcuts to select entire columns or rows.

Using Ctrl + Space to select data in a row or column

To select data in a row or column with Ctrl + Space, you need to do these 3 steps:

1. Find the row or column with the data you want.
2. Click any cell in that row or column. This will select the whole row or column.
3. Press Ctrl and the Spacebar at the same time to deselect other cells outside that row or column.

Ctrl + Space is a great way to choose an entire row or column in a worksheet quickly. This is helpful when handling a lot of data, since it saves time instead of choosing each cell separately.

You can make this shortcut even better by combining it with other Excel shortcuts. For example, if you want to copy and paste data from one spreadsheet to another, press Ctrl + C to copy, switch tabs and then press Ctrl + Space and Ctrl + V to paste the data.

Tip: To pick multiple rows or columns at once, click on them while holding the Shift key. After that, release the Shift key and hold Ctrl + Space to select all the highlighted rows or columns at the same time.

After that, we’ll look at ‘Using Ctrl + Click to select non-adjacent data’, which is another good shortcut for managing Excel spreadsheets.

Using Ctrl + Click to select non-adjacent data

Ctrl + Click to select non-adjacent data is an awesome Excel shortcut. It lets you pick multiple cells that are not next to each other without having to click on each one separately. Here’s how:

• First, click a cell and keep the Ctrl key pressed
• Then, click other cells while still holding down the Ctrl key
• All selected cells will be shown in blue as you go
• When finished, release the Ctrl key and keep working with your selection

This shortcut is great when dealing with large spreadsheets, as it saves time from having to use the mouse too much. Plus, it’s easy to copy or move sections of data with a few clicks.

Bonus tip: Use Shift + Spacebar or Ctrl + Spacebar to quickly select a whole column or row respectively. This will save you time from manually selecting each cell.

That’s all for now! In the next section, we’ll talk about more useful Excel Shortcuts to enhance productivity.

Other Essential Excel Shortcuts

I’m experienced with Excel. I get it’s a must to save time with daily tasks. This article covered important shortcuts. Here, we’ll learn more. For instance, quickly move to first cell in worksheet with Ctrl + Home. Jump to last cell with Ctrl + End. Switch between worksheets with Ctrl + Page Down and Ctrl + Page Up. These shortcuts can boost your efficiency and productivity when dealing with large data sets.

Image credits: manycoders.com by Joel Jones

Using Ctrl + Home to move to the first cell in a worksheet

Ctrl + Home is a shortcut which can save you time and effort when working with large amounts of data in Excel. It moves the cursor to the top-left cell of the worksheet or table, no matter where you are in the workbook.

Follow these steps to use Ctrl + Home:

1. Open the workbook and click on any cell in the active worksheet.
2. Press and hold Ctrl on your keyboard.
3. While still holding down Ctrl, press Home (not End).
4. Your cursor will now be at A1.
5. Press Shift + Ctrl + Home to select all cells from A1 to your current selection.
6. Click anywhere outside the selected area to deselect.

Using Ctrl + Home is especially useful when dealing with large spreadsheets or tables. Instead of scrolling through rows or clicking through pages, you can jump to the top of the sheet with one keystroke.

Moreover, if you’re creating data sets within an existing spreadsheet, this technique means it’ll open on the part you were last working on.

It’s a great time-saver for anyone who works with Excel!

Using Ctrl + End to move to the last cell in a worksheet

Ctrl + End is an essential Excel shortcut for quickly navigating through large data sets. Here’s how to use it:

1. Select a cell in the worksheet.
2. Hold down the Ctrl key.
3. Press the End key while still holding Ctrl.
4. Release both keys, and you’ll be taken to the last cell with data.

This shortcut is great for finding the last piece of information quickly when dealing with large datasets. It takes you directly to the last row and column with data.

If you want to make your Excel navigation easier, here are some tips:

• Use Alt + Tab to switch between open windows or applications.
• Press Ctrl + Page Up/Down to move between worksheets.
• Utilize hotkeys for tasks like copying and pasting.

Using Ctrl + Page Down to move to the next worksheet

Ctrl + Page Down is a helpful Excel shortcut – here’s how to use it:

1. Open the workbook and click any cell.
2. Press and hold Ctrl.
3. Press Page Down while still holding Ctrl.
4. You will now be on the next worksheet.
5. Go back? Use Ctrl + Page Up.
6. Repeat as needed.

This shortcut is great if you’re working with numerous sheets of data. It can save you time compared to manually clicking each sheet.

It’s important to know that this shortcut only works when there are more than two worksheets. If you have only one or two, pressing Ctrl + Page Down or Ctrl + Page Up won’t do anything.

Did you know it was first released in Excel 97 and has been popular ever since?

We’ll now discuss using Ctrl + Page Up to move to the previous worksheet.

Using Ctrl + Page Up to move to the previous worksheet

Ctrl + Page Up is a brilliant shortcut in Excel that will save you heaps of time. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open an Excel workbook with multiple worksheets.
2. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
3. While holding Ctrl, press the Page Up key.

You’ll be taken to the previous worksheet. To move to the next sheet, use the opposite shortcut: Ctrl + Page Down.

Ctrl + Page Up is really useful when switching between worksheets frequently. Rather than manually clicking or using the navigation buttons, this shortcut gets you there in one step.

If you’re an Excel beginner, this shortcut may seem intimidating. However, once you get used to it, you’ll be able to complete tasks faster and feel more confident.

I used to waste a lot of time navigating my way around workbooks before I learned this shortcut. Now, I’m able to do tasks faster and feel more capable when dealing with complex sheets.

Top 22 Excel Shortcuts for Selecting Data and Cells

Excel shortcuts are great for improving your navigation and selection of data! There are so many shortcuts, it can be confusing to know which ones to use. In this section, we’ll focus on the top 22 Excel shortcuts for selecting data and cells. We’ll look into the details and give examples of how to use them to be more productive. Master these shortcuts and you’ll speed up your Excel workflow and get more done, quicker!

Image credits: manycoders.com by David Duncun

Using Shift + Ctrl + Home to select all data from the current cell to the top of the worksheet

Shift + Ctrl + Home is an essential shortcut for quickly selecting and analyzing large amounts of data.

Press and hold Shift, Ctrl, and Home keys to select all data from the current cell to the top of the worksheet.

This shortcut is great for working with large data sets. It saves time by enabling you to get back to the beginning of a spreadsheet quickly.

It also ensures that nothing at the start of a dataset is missed.

Pro Tip: Use Shift + Spacebar to select an entire row before pressing Shift + Ctrl + Home for unique analysis or data set cleaning.

For those willing to select their worksheet’s bottom portion like total lines or footers rapidly, use Shift + Ctrl + End.

Using Shift + Ctrl + End to select all data from the current cell to the bottom of the worksheet

Using Shift + Ctrl + End is a useful shortcut for selecting all data from the current cell to the bottom of the worksheet. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press and hold down the Shift key.
2. Press and hold down the Ctrl key.
3. Press the End key.

This shortcut can save you time and effort when dealing with a large amount of data. You don’t have to scroll through each cell manually.

Mary was overwhelmed with her thesis project that required analyzing huge datasets in Excel. Fortunately, her Professor showed her this shortcut. Now, selecting massive amounts of data is much easier and faster!

Next up, we will look at how to select a range of data using Shift + Ctrl + Arrow keys.

Using Shift + Ctrl + Arrow keys to select a range of data from the current cell to the last non-empty cell in that direction

Using Shift + Ctrl + Arrow keys to select a range of data from the current cell to the last non-empty cell is an essential Excel shortcut. This method saves time and effort when selecting large groups of cells without having to click one by one. Here’s how:

1. Select the top-left cell of the range you want to select,
2. Press and hold down both Shift and Ctrl keys,
3. Use any arrow key (up, down, left or right).

This will take you through all contiguous non-empty cells until no more exist. It also ensures that only visible cells are selected while leaving behind hidden information.

Mastering this shortcut reduces errors caused by overlooking some cells. Pro tip: Use this shortcut for quick navigation around large datasets. Hold down Shift+Ctrl and press arrows to move freely across records.

The next heading guides you on another useful feature- ‘Using Shift + Ctrl + Space to select the entire worksheet’.

Using Shift + Ctrl + Space to select the entire worksheet

Shift + Ctrl + Space is one of the most useful Excel shortcuts. To get started, open an Excel worksheet and follow these five steps:

1. Press Shift.
2. Press Ctrl.
3. Press Space bar.
4. Release all three.
5. The whole worksheet is selected!

This shortcut is great for making global changes or formatting all at once. For example, if you want to change a font style for the whole workbook, it can help you save time.

I learnt about this shortcut from a friend. She wanted to highlight cells with expenses for a month. But it took her ten minutes since she didn’t know about the shortcut. Ctrl + Shift + : is another way of selecting cells in Excel precisely.

Using Ctrl + Shift + : to select the current cell range

Ctrl + Shift + : is an essential Excel shortcut for selecting data and cells. It helps users choose a group of adjacent cells easily. To use this shortcut: press and hold Ctrl and Shift keys simultaneously, and then press the colon (:) key. Here’s how:

• Place the cursor in a cell of the range you want to select.
• Press and hold the Ctrl key.
• While still pressing Ctrl, press and hold the Shift key.
• While still holding both keys, tap the colon (:) symbol once.

This shortcut has many advantages. It saves time by allowing you to choose multiple cells without clicking on each one. It also helps you manipulate large amounts of data quickly. Plus, it enhances productivity. For those working on projects or tasks that require Excel, learning shortcuts can help them do more in less time.

Fun fact – Excel shortcuts have been around since 1993 when Microsoft released Excel 5.0!

Next, we’ll discuss “Using Ctrl + Shift + * to select the current region.”

Using Ctrl + Shift + * to select the current region

Ctrl + Shift + * is a handy keyboard shortcut for selecting the current region. It multiplies the active cell, and the contiguous (touching) cells. Here’s how it works:

1. The * represents multiplication in Excel.
2. The shortcut works wherever you click before pressing it.
3. If there are multiple regions, it activates them based on where you click.
4. Activate the region with F2 or double-click a cell.
5. Paste copied data into the activated region.

Using Ctrl + Shift + * is great when working with lots of data. It saves time by selecting whole rows, columns, or spreadsheets in one go, without having to drag the mouse.

Pro Tip: Alt + = selects the current column, starting from the active cell to the right. You can also hold down Alt while clicking and dragging through selections before releasing all keys. This selects regions divided by blank rows/columns.

Using Alt + = to select the current column

Utilizing Alt + = for selecting the current column is a useful shortcut which aids you in rapidly and effectively selecting entire columns! Here’s how it functions:

• Press and keep the Alt key on your keyboard.
• Whilst still holding down the Alt key, hit the equal (=) sign.
• The current column will be automatically selected in its entirety.
• You can then copy, paste or apply formatting to the selected column as necessary.
• This shortcut works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

One of the amazing advantages of Using Alt + = to select the current column is that it saves you time while working with big datasets. Without this shortcut, you would have to manually click and drag your mouse across each cell in a column, which can be a very lengthy process.

By using this shortcut, you can also avoid mistakenly selecting adjacent columns or rows while scrolling through your spreadsheet. This is particularly helpful if you’re working on a touchpad or small screen where accuracy can be an issue.

Overall, Using Alt + = to select the current column is one of many time-saving shortcuts available in Excel which can help enhance your productivity and simplify your workflow.

Don’t miss out on this vital shortcut! Try it out yourself now and witness how much time you can save.

Up next, we’ll be looking at Using Ctrl + Shift + 1 to format data as date.

Using Ctrl + Shift + to format data as date

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Ctrl + Shift + 3 is an essential Excel shortcut everyone should know. Here’s how to use it:

1. Select the cells to be formatted as dates.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+#.
3. Automatically format the cells in the default date format (e.g., “12/15/2021”).
4. Or, press Ctrl+Shift+3 again to choose a custom date format.
5. Click “OK” to save.
6. That’s it! Data is now formatted as dates.

It’s great for large datasets, saving time and making sure dates are consistent. Professional Excel users use shortcuts like this to stay organized and productive. This small detail can make a big difference in efficiency and success.

Next, learn how to use Ctrl + Shift + @ to format data as time.

Using Ctrl + Shift + @ to format data as time

The trick of using Ctrl + Shift + @ to format data as time in Excel is a great way to quickly spruce up your spreadsheets. This shortcut helps you save time and effort. To use it, just follow three simple steps:

1. Select the cell or range of cells with the data to be formatted.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + @ on your keyboard.
3. The data will be formatted as time with the default hh:mm:ss format.

Using this shortcut can transform raw numbers into formatted times fast and without manual formatting. It’s especially helpful when dealing with large datasets with many date and time values.

Moreover, it also helps ensure accurate analysis of trends over long periods. This shortcut makes Excel more powerful and useful for analyzing and presenting numerical information.

You can combine it with other features in Excel like conditional formatting and editing formulas. Also, consider customizing the default date and time formats to suit applications better.

Ctrl + Shift + @ is a must-have skill for Excel users.But it’s just one of many shortcuts available; if you want more tips, keep reading our article.

The next heading is “Using Ctrl + Shift + $ to format data as currency.” This another great shortcut for making your spreadsheets more organized and easier to read.

Using Ctrl + Shift + $ to format data as currency

Using Ctrl + Shift + $ to format data as currency is a great Excel shortcut. Here are six points that explain how to use it:

• Select the numerical data cells.
• Press and hold the Ctrl key.
• Press and release the Shift key.
• Still holding down Ctrl, press and release the $ sign.
• The cells will now be formatted as currency with dollar signs and two decimal places.
• To remove the formatting, select the cells and press Ctrl + Shift + ~ (tilde).

Formatting changes the presentation of cells to make them easier to read and understand. Using this shortcut can save time if you work with financial data. It’s faster than manually formatting each cell, and ensures consistency across all selected cells.

Plus, this shortcut also works in other Microsoft Office applications like Word and PowerPoint. That’s how flexible keyboard shortcuts can be!

Did you know? The $ sign comes from Spanish silver coins called pesos. The abbreviation for pesos was “ps,” which eventually became “$.”

Now, let’s look at another useful Excel shortcut involving percentages: Using Ctrl + Shift + % to format data as percentage.

Using Ctrl + Shift + % to format data as percentage

Ctrl + Shift + % is an awesome Excel shortcut that saves you heaps of time. Here’s what you need to know:

• You can use it to quickly format cells as percentages.
• Select the cells and press Ctrl + Shift + %.
• This will format them automatically, no manual adjustments needed.
• It’s great for working with large data sets.

This shortcut can really come in handy if you find yourself frequently formatting cells as percentages. It lets you save time and concentrate on other stuff.

In fact, Microsoft research has found that using shortcuts like this one can help you save up to 25% of your work time.

Now, let’s take a look at another handy Excel shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + ^ for exponential values.

Using Ctrl + Shift + ^ for exponential values

Ctrl + Shift + ^ is an awesome Excel shortcut for exponential values. Here are five ways to use it:

1. Select a cell and press the keys to enter scientific notation numbers, such as 1.23E+11.
2. Highlight a column and press the keys to convert it into exponential format.
3. Select a range and press the keys to convert it into exponential format.
4. Select a cell to fit its text without distorting its format.
5. Use the shortcut when copying or pasting cells with varying degrees of precision.

This shortcut makes manipulating data quick and accurate. It’s especially useful in science, engineering and accounting fields. If you’re working on a financial statement, this shortcut can be invaluable. I found this out while dictating some information to a colleague over the phone while updating a spreadsheet. It was hard to explain large figures, but with the shortcut, I could summarize them easily without miscommunication.

Another great shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+& which adds borders to cells.

Using Ctrl + Shift + & to add borders to cells

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Ctrl + Shift + & is a handy Excel shortcut for adding borders to cells. Here’s a 3-step guide on how to use it:

1. Select the cells.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + & on the keyboard.
3. Choose a border style from the list.

Borders make data easier to read and understand. The shortcut lets you quickly add different types of borders such as thick/thin lines, double lines, or dotted lines.

When dealing with large data sets, borders help to visually separate different sections and highlight important cells. To make this shortcut easily accessible, customize your toolbar by going to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar. Then, select “All Commands” and add “Borders” to the list.

Ctrl + Shift + & is very useful for data sets in Excel. However, when you need to remove borders, use Ctrl + Shift + _ instead.

Using Ctrl + Shift + _ to remove borders from cells

Ctrl + Shift + _ is a convenient shortcut when you want to make your Excel sheet look neat. Here’s how it works:

1. Select the cells.
2. Hold Ctrl and press Shift.
3. Press _ (underscore).
4. Release all three keys.

This 5-step guide lets you quickly remove any outer borders from your selected cells, making them appear cleaner and more streamlined. It’s especially useful with large spreadsheets and helps speed up navigation.

Recently, I was working on a project with too many rows of raw data. I was overwhelmed by the clutter of borders around different cell-ranges. Then, I discovered the Ctrl + Shift + _ shortcut and it helped me get rid of the distractions. This resulted in a much better layout so I could stay focused on doing the math operations.

Ctrl + Shift + ~ is an essential Excel shortcut too. It helps us quickly switch between displaying values in different formats. This improves legibility during reports and analyses activities.

Using Ctrl + Shift + ~ to apply general number formatting

Ctrl + Shift + ~ is an essential Excel shortcut for anyone often working with numbers. It allows you to quickly format any numerical value as a general number so it displays as you entered it.

5 Key Points:

• Select the cell or range, then press Ctrl + Shift + ~.
• General number format has no decimal places or separators.
• Useful when data doesn’t need specific formatting but needs to be easily read.
• Can also remove existing formatting from a cell.
• Saves time and improves productivity.

Also use this shortcut when calculating statistical values. To maximize the benefits, experiment with different font types and sizes. Changing the font style can make numeric data more readable.

In conclusion, using Ctrl + Shift + ~ is very useful. It’s easy to use, saves time and increases productivity by quickly formatting numerical values without needing extra setup. Next, we’ll explore using Ctrl + Shift + ! to apply number formatting with a thousand separator.

Using Ctrl + Shift + ! to apply number formatting with a thousand separator

Using Ctrl + Shift + ! is an essential shortcut for formatting data in Excel. To use this feature:

1. Select the cell or range of cells.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + !.
3. Data will be formatted with a thousand separator.

Applying number formatting with a thousand separator makes big numbers easier to read. This shortcut makes data visually appealing and easy-to-read. For example, when working with financial data, you can quickly see how much revenue was generated each month.

This feature is excellent for improving the readability of Excel spreadsheets. It’s simple and provides quick access to formatting options. Another useful shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + @ which applies time formatting with hours, minutes, and seconds.

Using Ctrl + Shift + @ to apply time formatting with hours, minutes, and seconds

Using Ctrl+Shift+@ is one of the most helpful Excel shortcuts for time formatting with hours, minutes and seconds. It makes reading and analyzing data easier. Here are four ways to use this shortcut:

1. Select cells you want to format, then press Ctrl+Shift+@. To adjust display of decimals or AM/PM format, right-click and select “Format Cells” from the drop-down menu.
2. To change display of previously formatted cells, select the cells and press Ctrl+Shift+@.
3. To round time values, use Ctrl+Shift+@ followed by a number key. For example, Ctrl+Shift+1 rounds off selected times to whole numbers.
4. To enter current date or time quickly, use Ctrl+; for date, and Ctrl+Shift+; for time.

This shortcut is useful when working with spreadsheets that have many time-related data points. You can select multiple cells and apply same formatting. Combine it with other Excel shortcuts like copying/pasting formulas (Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V), or navigating between sheets (Ctrl+PgUp/Ctrl+PgDn).

The next heading will explore using another helpful shortcut in Excel – Using Ctrl+Shift+# to apply date formatting with a day, month and year.

Using Ctrl + Shift + to apply date formatting with a day, month, and year

Ctrl + Shift + is a must-know shortcut in Excel. It saves time when formatting dates. Here’s how to use it:

1. Select the cell or range you want to format.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box.
3. Click Date in the Category list.
4. Pick the type of date format you want.
5. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to apply the formatting.

This shortcut is great for large data sets with consistent formatting. It quickly applies a specific date format with a couple of keystrokes.

Remember, Excel recognizes dates based on your computer’s regional settings. For instance, if your computer displays dates as “month/day/year,” that’s the format Excel will use.

Take advantage of Excel’s custom date formats. Just click “Custom” in the Format Cells dialog box. This lets you create your own unique date format.

Next up is Using Ctrl + Shift + $ for currency formatting. This is also an important shortcut for formatting data in Excel.

Using Ctrl + Shift + $ to apply currency formatting with the appropriate currency symbol

Using Ctrl + Shift + $ to format numbers as currency in your spreadsheet is simple and essential. Press the Ctrl, Shift, and $ keys all at once, and the selected cells will be formatted with the appropriate currency symbol based on your computer’s region.

This shortcut saves time and presents data in a professional way. Just remember – it only applies to the selected cells. If you need to format other cells, you must repeat the shortcut.

It’s also helpful to know which countries use which currency symbols. For example, the U.S. and Canada both use the dollar sign ($), but the U.S. has a single line ($) while Canada has two vertical lines (C$).

Next up – another useful shortcut: Use Ctrl + Shift + % to apply percentage formatting with a percent sign.

Using Ctrl + Shift + % to apply percentage formatting with a percent sign

Ctrl + Shift + % is a great Excel shortcut! It lets you format numbers as percentages with a percent sign, in just a few steps.

1. Select the cell or range of cells.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + % on your keyboard.
3. The cells will be formatted as percentages, with a percent sign.
4. To remove the formatting, press Ctrl + Shift + ~ instead.

This shortcut helps you quickly convert raw data into percentages. It’s an efficient way to get your data formatted correctly. It can save you time when working with large datasets, especially those involving financial or statistical analysis.

Charles Simonyi, one of the original developers of Microsoft Excel, is credited with inventing this and many other popular Excel shortcuts. He based them on his experience using pre-IBM computers with similar features.

If you’re looking for another essential Excel shortcut, try “Using Ctrl + Shift + & to add an outline border to cells“.

Using Ctrl + Shift + & to add an outline border to cells

Ctrl+Shift+& is a helpful Excel shortcut that saves you time when doing spreadsheets. This feature adds a clear visual difference between data sets, making it easier to scan and analyze large amounts of information.

To use this shortcut:

1. Select the cells you want to add an outline border to.
2. Press “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “&” simultaneously.
3. Admire the neat outlines around your data!

Adding an outline border not only makes data look more professional, but also helps avoid calculation and analysis errors. It’s easier to find group totals or specific values.

Using Ctrl+Shift+& adds an outer border to the selected cells. You can also specify line style, color and width from the Home tab or using other tools.

Say you have several tables to present to your manager. Ctrl+Shift+& helps make the presentation look neat and organized by adding lines between tables. Now you are ready to impress your manager – thanks CTRL+ SHIFT +&!

Using Ctrl + Shift + _ to remove an outline border from cells.

Ctrl + Shift + _ is a nifty Excel shortcut that helps remove outline borders from cells. It’s a real time saver as it allows you to quickly switch between different views of your data without having to manually change any settings or formatting.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Select the cells with an outline border.
2. Press and hold Ctrl & Shift simultaneously.
3. Press the underscore key (_).
4. The outline borders should disappear.

It’s especially helpful for large data sets. It also helps with readability when presenting data, as it removes any distracting borders. It can make a huge difference in how well your data is received.

I once presented financial analysis to team leaders. They were distracted by the thick outlines around my charts and tables. In that moment, I wished I’d known about Ctrl + Shift + _. Now, I always use it when presenting data in Excel.

FAQs about 22 Essential Excel Shortcuts For Selecting Data And Cells

What are the 22 essential Excel shortcuts for selecting data and cells?

The 22 essential Excel shortcuts for selecting data and cells include:

• Ctrl+A – Select all
• Shift+Arrow Keys – Extend selection
• Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Keys – Select data around active cell
• Ctrl+Spacebar – Select entire column
• Shift+Spacebar – Select entire row
• Ctrl+Shift+End – Select all data to the bottom right of the active cell
• Ctrl+Home – Select cell A1
• Ctrl+Shift+Home – Select data from active cell to A1
• Ctrl+Page Up/Page Down – Select previous/next worksheet
• Shift+F8 – Enable add mode to select non-contiguous cells
• Ctrl+F8 – Add a single cell to a selection
• Ctrl+Shift+F8 – Add a block of cells to a selection
• Alt+; – Select visible cells only
• Ctrl+\ – Select cells that contain the same value as active cell
• Ctrl+Shift+\ – Select cells that are directly dependent on active cell
• Ctrl+Shift+* – Select current data region around active cell
• Ctrl+F3 – Open Name Manager to select named range
• F5 – Open Go To dialog box to select specific cell or range
• F2 – Edit active cell
• Shift+F10 – Display context menu for selected cells
• F9 – Recalculate worksheet
• Ctrl+Alt+F9 – Recalculate all workbooks in all open workbooks