Remove extra spaces with TRIM
Find the invisible spaces that break lookups and hide duplicates, and clean them with TRIM in a helper column.
In this lesson
=TRIM(A2)removes spaces at the start and end of a text, and turns runs of spaces between words into one.- Spot hidden spaces with
=LEN(A2)(more characters than you see) or=A2=A3(FALSE for two values that look the same). - Put TRIM in a helper column, fill it down, and point lookups and duplicate checks at the clean column.
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Why your formula broke when you copied it
Lock a cell with $ so a formula keeps working when you copy it down.
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- Clean up messy data
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The steps
10 steps: 4 explanations, 5 Do this, 1 question, then Your turn.
Try a free lesson first
Why your formula broke when you copied it
Lock a cell with $ so a formula keeps working when you copy it down.
Beginner · 7 min · Free, with no sign-up
Do the free lesson on your computer.
Send yourself the link and open it on a laptop or desktop.
On your computer, go tolearnford.com/go/39MP