How to Format Text in Excel?

#1 Text Name

We can format the text font from default to any other available fonts in Excel. Likewise, we can insert any text value in any of the cells.

Under the “Home” tab, we can see so many formatting options available.

Formatting has been categorized into six groups: “Clipboard,” “Font,” “Alignment,” “Number,” and “Styles.”

In this, we are formatting the font of cell value A1, “Hello Excel.” For this, under the “Font” category, click on the “Font Name” drop-down list and select the font name as per wish.

We hover over one of the font names above. We can see the quick preview in cell A1. If you are satisfied with the font style, click on the name to fix the font name for the selected cell value.

#2 Font Size

Similarly, we can also format the font size of the text in a cell. Just type the font size in numbers next to the font name option.

Enter the font size in numbers to see the impact.

#3 Text Appearance

We can modify the default view of the text value. For example, we can make the text value look bold, italic, and underlined. Look at font size and name options. We can see all these three options.

As per the format, we can apply formatting to text value.

  • We have applied the “Bold” formatting using the Ctrl + B shortcut excel keyShortcut Excel KeyAn Excel shortcut is a technique of performing a manual task in a quicker way.read more.

  • To apply “Italic” formatting, use the Ctrl + I shortcut key.

  • To apply “Underline” formatting, use the Ctrl + U shortcut key.

  • The below image shows a combination of all the above three options.

  • If we want to apply a double underline, click on the drop-down list of underline options and choose “Double Underline.”

#4 Text Color

We can format the default font color (black) of text to any colors available.

  • Click on the drop-down list of the “Font Color” option and change as per choice.

#5 Text Alignment

We can format the alignment of the Excel text under the “Alignment” group.

  • We can do a left alignment, right alignment, middle alignment, top alignment, and bottom alignment.

#6 Text Orientation

The important thing under “Alignment” is the “Orientation” of the text value.

Under “Orientation,” we can rotate text values diagonally or vertically.

  • Angle Counterclockwise

  • Angle Clockwise

  • Vertical Text

  • Rotate Text Up

  • Rotate Text Down

  • Under “Format Cell Alignment, we have many options. Click on this option and experiment with some techniques to see the impact.

#7 Conditional Text Formatting

Let us see how to apply conditional formattingApply Conditional FormattingConditional formatting is a technique in Excel that allows us to format cells in a worksheet based on certain conditions. It can be found in the styles section of the Home tab.read more to text in Excel.

We have learned some of the basic text formatting techniques. How about the idea of formatting only a specific set of values from the group? If we want to find only duplicate values or find unique values.

These are possible through the conditional formatting technique.

For example, look at the below list of cities.

From this list, let us learn some formatting techniques.

#1 – Highlight Specific Value

If we want to highlight only the specific city name, we can only highlight specific city names. For example, assume we want to highlight the city “Bangalore,” then select the data and go to conditional formatting.

Click on the drop-down list in excelDrop-down List In ExcelA drop-down list in excel is a pre-defined list of inputs that allows users to select an option.read more of “Conditional Formatting” »> “Highlight cells Rules” »> “Text that Contains.”

Now, we will see the below window.

Next, we must enter the text value that we need to highlight.

Now from the drop-down list, we must choose the formatting style.

Click on “OK.” Consequently, it will highlight only the supplied text value.

#2 – Highlight Duplicate Value

To highlight duplicate values in excelHighlight Duplicate Values In ExcelHighlight Cells Rule, which is available under Conditional Formatting under the Home menu tab, can be used to highlight duplicate values in the selected dataset, whether it is a column or row of a table.read more, follow the below path.

“Conditional Formatting” »> “Highlight cells Rules” »> “Duplicate Values.”

Again from the below window, we must select the formatting style.

As a result, it will highlight only the text values that appear more than once.

#3 – Highlight Unique Value

Like how we have highlighted duplicate values similarly, we can highlight all the unique values, i.e., text value that appears only once. Then, the formatting window chooses the “Unique” value option from the duplicate values.

It will highlight only the unique values.

Things to Remember

  • We must learn shortcut keys to format text values in Excel quickly.We can use conditional formatting to format some text values based on certain conditions.

This article is a guide to formatting text in Excel. We discuss formatting text using text name, font size, appearance, color, etc., with practical examples and downloadable Excel templates. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles: –

  • Conditional Formatting in DatesConditional Formatting along with FormulasCombine Text From Two Or More Cells