Which Of The Following Refers To A Range Of Cells That Includes A Header Row And Rows Of Data?

Lesson 5: Cell Basics

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Introduction

Whenever you work with Excel, y'all'll enter data—or content—into cells. Cells are the basic building blocks of a worksheet. You'll need to acquire the basics of cells and cell content to summate, clarify, and organize data in Excel.

Optional: Download our practice workbook.

Watch the video below to learn more than most the nuts of working with cells.

Agreement cells

Every worksheet is made up of thousands of rectangles, which are called cells. A cell is the intersection of a row and a cavalcade—in other words, where a row and column come across.

Columns are identified by messages (A, B, C), while rows are identified by numbers (ane, 2, three). Each cell has its own proper name—or prison cell accost—based on its column and row. In the example below, the selected cell intersects cavalcade C and row 5, so the jail cell address is C5.

cell C5

Notation that the cell address also appears in the Proper noun box in the height-left corner, and that a cell's column and row headings are highlighted when the cell is selected.

Y'all tin can also select multiple cells at the same fourth dimension. A grouping of cells is known as a prison cell range. Rather than a unmarried cell address, you will refer to a cell range using the prison cell addresses of the first and last cells in the cell range, separated by a colon. For example, a cell range that included cells A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5 would be written as A1:A5. Take a await at the different cell ranges below:

Cell range A1:A8
Cell range A1:F1
Cell range A1:F8

If the columns in your spreadsheet are labeled with numbers instead of messages, y'all'll need to change the default reference style for Excel. Review our Extra on What are Reference Styles? to learn how.

To select a prison cell:

To input or edit cell content, you'll first need to select the cell.

Click a prison cell to select information technology. In our case, nosotros'll select cell D9.
A border will appear around the selected jail cell, and the column heading and row heading will be highlighted. The cell will remain selected until you click some other cell in the worksheet.

Y'all tin can besides select cells using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

To select a cell range:

Sometimes you lot may want to select a larger grouping of cells, or a cell range.

Click and drag the mouse until all of the bordering cells y'all want to select are highlighted. In our case, we'll select the cell range B5:C18.
Release the mouse to select the desired cell range. The cells volition remain selected until you click some other cell in the worksheet.

Cell content

Any information you enter into a spreadsheet volition exist stored in a jail cell. Each jail cell tin contain different types of content, including text, formatting, formulas, and functions.

Text: Cells can comprise text, such equally letters, numbers, and dates.
Formatting attributes: Cells tin can contain formatting attributes that change the way letters, numbers, and dates are displayed. For instance, percentages tin appear as 0.xv or 15%. You can fifty-fifty modify a jail cell'south text or background colour.
Formulas and functions: Cells tin contain formulas and functions that calculate jail cell values. In our case, SUM(B2:B8) adds the value of each cell in the jail cell range B2:B8 and displays the full in jail cell B9.

To insert content:

Click a cell to select it. In our instance, we'll select cell F9.
Type something into the selected cell, then press Enter on your keyboard. The content will announced in the jail cell and the formula bar. You can also input and edit cell content in the formula bar.

To delete (or clear) jail cell content:

Select the prison cell(south) with content you want to delete. In our example, we'll select the cell range A10:H10.
Select the Articulate command on the Home tab, and then click Clear Contents.
The cell contents will be deleted.

You tin can also employ the Delete key on your keyboard to delete content from multiple cells at once. The Backspace key will only delete content from i cell at a time.

To delete cells:

There is an important departure betwixt deleting the content of a cell and deleting the jail cell itself. If you lot delete the entire cell, the cells below it will shift to fill in the gaps and supplant the deleted cells.

Select the prison cell(s) you want to delete. In our example, we'll select A10:H10.
Select the Delete command from the Home tab on the Ribbon.
The cells below will shift up and fill in the gaps.

To copy and paste prison cell content:

Excel allows yous to copy content that is already entered into your spreadsheet and paste that content to other cells, which can relieve you fourth dimension and effort.

Select the cell(due south) you desire to copy. In our example, we'll select F9.
Click the Copy command on the Dwelling house tab, or press Ctrl+C on your keyboard.
Select the prison cell(s) where you desire to paste the content. In our case, we'll select F12:F17. The copied cell(due south) volition have a dashed box around them.
Click the Paste command on the Domicile tab, or printing Ctrl+5 on your keyboard.
The content will be pasted into the selected cells.

To access more paste options:

You lot can also access additional paste options, which are particularly convenient when working with cells that contain formulas or formatting. Merely click the drop-downwards arrow on the Paste command to run across these options.

clicking the Paste command drop-down menu

Instead of choosing commands from the Ribbon, you can access commands quickly past right-clicking. Simply select the cell(s) you desire to format, then right-click the mouse. A drop-downwardly menu volition appear, where you'll find several commands that are also located on the Ribbon.

right-clicking to access cut, copy, and paste options

To cut and paste cell content:

Unlike copying and pasting, which duplicates cell content, cut allows you to move content between cells.

Select the cell(s) you lot want to cutting. In our example, we'll select G5:G6.
Right-click the mouse and select the Cut control. Alternatively, you tin can utilize the control on the Home tab, or press Ctrl+X on your keyboard.
Select the cells where you lot desire to paste the content. In our case, nosotros'll select F10:F11. The cut cells will at present have a dashed box around them.
Right-click the mouse and select the Paste command. Alternatively, you can use the command on the Dwelling tab, or press Ctrl+V on your keyboard.
The cut content will be removed from the original cells and pasted into the selected cells.

To elevate and drop cells:

Instead of cutting, copying, and pasting, you can elevate and drop cells to move their contents.

Select the cell(due south) yous want to motion. In our example, we'll select H4:H12.
Hover the mouse over the border of the selected cell(s) until the mouse changes to a pointer with 4 arrows.
Click and drag the cells to the desired location. In our instance, nosotros'll motion them to G4:G12.
Release the mouse. The cells will be dropped in the selected location.

To utilize the fill handle:

If you lot're copying cell content to next cells in the same row or column, the fill handle is a good alternative to the copy and paste commands.

Select the cell(s) containing the content you want to use, then hover the mouse over the lower-correct corner of the jail cell so the fill handle appears.
Click and drag the fill handle until all of the cells you want to fill are selected. In our example, we'll select G13:G17.
Release the mouse to fill the selected cells.

To continue a series with the fill handle:

The fill up handle can also be used to go on a series. Whenever the content of a row or column follows a sequential order, like numbers (ane, 2, iii) or days (Monday, Tuesday, Wed), the fill handle can guess what should come adjacent in the series. In most cases, you will need to select multiple cells before using the fill handle to help Excel decide the series order. Allow's take a look at an instance:

Select the cell range that contains the series you want to continue. In our example, we'll select E4:G4.
Click and drag the fill handle to keep the series.
Release the mouse. If Excel understood the series, it will be continued in the selected cells. In our example, Excel added Office 4, Role five, and Part six to H4:J4.

Yous tin can also double-click the fill up handle instead of clicking and dragging. This can be useful with larger spreadsheets, where clicking and dragging may be awkward.

Watch the video below to see an example of double-clicking the fill up handle.

Challenge!

Open our practice workbook.
Select cell D6 and type hlee.
Clear the contents in row 14.
Delete column G.
Using either cut and paste or drag and drop, move the contents of row 18 to row 14.
Use the make full handle to put an X in cells F9:F17.
When you lot're finished, your workbook should wait like this: