How to Use CONCATENATE in Excel: Simple Guide
Use the
CONCATENATE function in Excel to join text from two or more cells into one cell. Write =CONCATENATE(text1, text2, ...) where each text can be a cell reference or text in quotes.Syntax
The CONCATENATE function combines multiple text strings into one. Its syntax is:
CONCATENATE(text1, text2, ...)
Each text can be a cell reference, a number, or text enclosed in quotes.
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=CONCATENATE(text1, text2, ...)
Example
This example joins the contents of cells A1 and B1 with a space between them.
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=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)Output
If A1 contains "Hello" and B1 contains "World", the output will be "Hello World"
Common Pitfalls
Common mistakes include forgetting to add spaces between words or using incorrect quotes. For example, =CONCATENATE(A1,B1) joins text without space, making words stick together.
Correct way to add space:
=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)
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=CONCATENATE(A1,B1)
=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)Output
If A1="Good" and B1="Morning":
First formula output: "GoodMorning"
Second formula output: "Good Morning"
Quick Reference
| Part | Description |
|---|---|
| text1, text2, ... | Text items or cell references to join |
| " " | Use quotes with space to add space between words |
| Cell references | Refer to cells containing text or numbers |
| Text in quotes | Direct text must be inside double quotes |
Key Takeaways
Use CONCATENATE to join text from multiple cells into one cell.
Separate each text or cell reference with commas inside the function.
Add spaces by including " " as one of the arguments.
Always put direct text inside double quotes.
For newer Excel versions, consider using CONCAT or TEXTJOIN for more features.