Making Proper Skip Certain Words In Excel

Struggling to get your data formatted in Excel? You’re not alone! In this blog we’ll provide you with an easy-to-follow guide on using PROPER to make sure Excel skips certain words, so you can get your data looking perfect.

How to Use PROPER Function in Excel

I’ve found an amazing Excel feature: PROPER. It capitalizes the first letter of each word in text strings. This is really helpful with large pieces of text that must be capitalized for clarity. Now, let’s learn about PROPER’s purpose and benefits. Then, we’ll look at how to use it in Excel. So, let’s get started and learn how to make your text look more professional with PROPER!

Image credits: pixelatedworks.com by Harry Woodhock

Understanding the PROPER Function

The PROPER formula in Excel capitalizes the first letter of each word in a given string. Save time with this function when dealing with large amounts of data that need proper formatting.

Steps to Use the PROPER Function:

1. Select an empty cell for the result.
2. Type =PROPER( and select the cells to convert.
3. Close the parenthesis and press Enter.

You can create a list of words to skip like “the,” “a,” or “an.” Use Excel’s FIND function to find if one value appears within another value. Write a formula that skips certain words.

Format text data as proper nouns quickly. Make your work more visually appealing and easier for others to understand.

Master the use of Excel’s functions efficiently. Explore them all and take control of your data today! Your colleagues and clients will appreciate your clean and concise representations!

Steps to use the PROPER Function in Excel

To use the PROPER Function in Excel, there are a few easy steps. Pick the cell or range with text to be capitalized. Go to the Formula bar and type “PROPER(” plus the cell reference. Close the bracket and press Enter. The capitalized words will show in separate cells.

You can also use an Excel formula for title case. It needs three functions: LEFT(), RIGHT(), and PROPER(). Conditional formatting in Excel can capitalize words or sections, depending on criteria.

If you want to quickly capitalize an entire column of data, create a new column and enter the PROPER function with a reference to the original column. Non-text values (like numbers) can cause errors.

For an easier way to capitalize words without formulas or functions, try a third-party add-in like Kutools for Excel. To make PROPER skip certain words, follow these steps. By default, PROPER capitalizes all words. But, if you want some words capitalized, use custom code.

Create a custom function in Visual Basic Editor (VBE). Save the code as a module. Enter your text string into a cell and use the coding formula (e.g., =TitleCaseSkip(“Title Case In Excel”, “In”)). This will let you easily capitalize specific words.

Learn to Make PROPER Skip Certain Words

Ready for a higher level of Excel skills? In this part, we’ll discover ways to make the PROPER function ignore certain words. We know how annoying it can be when PROPER doesn’t capitalize words correctly. The following parts will explain how to make sure the PROPER function overlooks certain words in an Excel sheet. We’ll talk about setting up Excel sheet, using IF function, and applying PROPER to capitalize. After reading this article, you’ll have the skills to make your Excel process more productive and results more accurate.

Image credits: pixelatedworks.com by Joel Washington

Setting up the Excel Sheet for PROPER Function

Text:

Click on the first cell and enter the text that needs capitalizing.

Select the second cell to display the result.

Type “=” in front of the second cell.

Type “PROPER(” in front of the “=” sign. Then, select the first cell with uncapitalized text.

Close the parenthesis “)” and press enter.

You will see the second cell showing the capitalized text.

Copy and paste the formula to other cells if needed.

Format the cells properly and align.

No extra spaces or characters should be in the words.

One wrong step can lead to wrong results.

If needed, ask for help and clarify doubts.

Wrong setup of Excel will make proofreading time-consuming.

IF Function can skip words from being capitalized with logical arguments.

Using the IF Function to Skip Words

Text:

Select the cell to use IF Function. Enter the formula: =IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH(“Word to Skip”,A1)),RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND(“Word to Skip”,A1)-LEN(“Word to Skip”)+1),A1).

Press Enter. If the word is present, it will be skipped in the cell. Otherwise, all text will be displayed as usual. Copy and paste the formula into other cells.

Using IF Function to Skip Words saves time when working with large sets of data. It allows you to quickly find relevant information without manually sifting through each cell.

Note: This technique is case-sensitive. To skip all instances of a word regardless of case, use LOWER or UPPER functions along with SEARCH formula.

As an extra step, consider nesting ISERR function within your current formula outside the IF statement to avoid any errors.

Lastly, Applying PROPER function Capitalize is a useful feature of Excel when needing formatting changes uniformly across column range(s).

Applying the PROPER Function to Capitalize

PROPER Function in Excel? Follow this 3-step guide!

1. Select the cell with the text you want to format.
2. Next, enter “=PROPER(A1)” in the formula bar.
3. Hit enter and your text is now capitalized.

This function only affects capitalization – no other formatting. For more advanced formatting, try CONCATENATE or SUBSTITUTE.

PROPER Function helps with consistent spelling and grammar. It’s a great way to collaborate and check for errors.

Start using it today – streamline your workflow and boost productivity.

Ready for more? Examples of Making PROPER Skip Certain Words – coming up next.

Examples of Making PROPER Skip Certain Words

I’m an Excel lover, and I know how boring it can be to manually format each cell. It’s a long job and that’s why the PROPER formula is so helpful. But did you know it can also omit some words you don’t want to alter? In this part, I’ll show you three examples of how PROPER can ignore articles, prepositions, and conjunctions in Excel. Making your life easier and more effective!

Image credits: pixelatedworks.com by Yuval Arnold

Example 1 – Skipping Articles with PROPER

Want to skip certain words in Excel? Use the PROPER function! It’ll automatically capitalize the first letter of each word – but you can also exclude articles and conjunctions. Here’s how:

1. Open a new/existing Excel sheet.
2. Enter text data into cells.
3. Click an empty cell where you want the modified text.
4. Enter the formula =PROPER([cell number], “the,a”).
5. Press enter – now you have the new, capitalized text excluding the skipped words!

Skipping articles with PROPER is useful when you don’t want every word capitalized in a sentence. For instance, titles like “The Catcher in the Rye” or “A Tale of Two Cities”. With =PROPER(A1,”the,a”) these articles stay lowercase while everything else is still capitalized.

Pro Tip: You can add more words to skip by separating them with commas within the double quotes. Like this: =PROPER(A2,”and,the,but,a”).

Example 2 – Skipping Prepositions with PROPER – coming up next!

Example 2 – Skipping Prepositions with PROPER

Text: Use the PROPER function in Excel while omitting prepositions! Follow these 3 simple steps:

1. Open your Excel sheet.
2. Highlight the cell you want to apply the formula.
3. Type “=PROPER(” followed by the cell reference or text string in quotations. Then, add “,1)” at the end.

This is great for lists of names or titles with prepositions. For example, “David De La Rosa.” Normally, PROPER would capitalize “De” and “La.” But with the “,1)” addition to the formula, only “David” and “Rosa” will be capitalized.

Using PROPER functions in Excel can save you time when writing newsletters or creating directories. My colleague had to compile an excel sheet with over 5000 names and titles. Without PROPER, adjusting capitals for each word without missing prepositions like “of” or “the” would have been tedious. But the function cut her work time significantly!

Example 3 – Skipping Conjunctions with PROPER. Another tip to make sure your capitalizations remain accurate.

Example 3 – Skipping Conjunctions with PROPER

In Example 3 – Skipping Conjunctions with PROPER, we’ll learn to skip conjunctions while capitalizing the first letter of each word in a text in Excel. Follow these six steps:

1. Open the Excel worksheet and click the cell you want to apply this function to.
2. Type PROPER followed by an open parenthesis.
3. Select the cell with the text you want to capitalize and add an ampersand (&) symbol after it.
4. Type & SUBSTITUTE after the ampersand.
5. Select the cell containing the text again. Press comma (,), choose the conjunction you want to avoid like “and”, “or”, “but” etc. Press comma (,) again, and write `` two times. This will replace it with nothing.
6. Close both brackets with ‘)’ and hit enter.

Let’s say your sentence is: “I like coffee but not tea.” To not capitalize “but,” use =PROPER(A1&SUBSTITUTE(A1,”, “,””))

Why does skipping conjunctions while capitalizing words matter? Capitalization adds value, clarity, and emphasis to a sentence. But conjunctions don’t make sense in capitalized sentences or titles. This is why we need to skip them.

In short, Example 3 – Skipping Conjunctions with PROPER shows how to capitalize some words but not others with Excel functions. Try these tactics for better time management and efficiency!

FAQs about Making Proper Skip Certain Words In Excel

What is the purpose of the PROPER function in Excel?

When you use the PROPER function in Excel, it capitalizes the first letter of each word in a cell. This can be helpful for ensuring consistent formatting across your worksheets.

How do I make the PROPER function skip certain words in Excel?

To make the PROPER function skip certain words in Excel, you can use a combination of functions such as SUBSTITUTE, UPPER, and LOWER. Essentially, you would replace the words you don’t want to capitalize with a placeholder, apply the PROPER function, and then use another function to replace the placeholder with the original text.

Can I set up a formula to automatically skip certain words in the PROPER function?

Yes, you can use a formula to automatically skip certain words in the PROPER function in Excel. This involves using a combination of functions like MID, FIND, and IF. By building a formula that checks whether each word in a cell is a skip word, you can tell Excel to skip it in the output.

What are some common skip words when using the PROPER function in Excel?

Common skip words when using the PROPER function in Excel might include articles like “a,” “an,” and “the,” conjunctions like “and” and “or,” and prepositions like “of” and “to.” You might also want to skip honorifics like “Mr.” and “Ms.” depending on the specific use case.

Is there a way to skip entire phrases or strings of text using the PROPER function in Excel?

Yes, you can use the SUBSTITUTE function in Excel to replace entire phrases or strings of text with a placeholder, and then use the PROPER function on the resulting text. Keep in mind that this can get complicated if you have a lot of different phrases or strings that need to be skipped.

What are some best practices for using the PROPER function to skip certain words in Excel?

When using the PROPER function to skip certain words in Excel, it’s important to choose your skip words carefully and test your formula thoroughly to ensure it’s working as intended. You might also consider using a helper column to break down your formula into smaller pieces, which can make it easier to troubleshoot and modify. Additionally, you may want to create a list of skip words or phrases that you can easily reference whenever you need to use the function.