SUBSTITUTE and REPLACE in Google Sheets - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What is the output of this SUBSTITUTE formula?

Given cell A1 contains the text "apple banana apple", what will be the result of the formula =SUBSTITUTE(A1, "apple", "orange", 2)?

Google Sheets

=SUBSTITUTE(A1, "apple", "orange", 2)

A "orange banana orange"

B "orange banana apple"

C "apple banana orange"

D "orange banana apple apple"

💡 Hint

The number 2 means only the second occurrence of "apple" is replaced.

SUBSTITUTE replaces only the specified occurrence when the fourth argument is given. Here, only the second "apple" is replaced with "orange".

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What does this REPLACE formula return?

If cell B1 contains "1234567890", what is the result of =REPLACE(B1, 4, 3, "ABC")?

Google Sheets

=REPLACE(B1, 4, 3, "ABC")

A "123ABC7890"

B "1234ABC7890"

C "1234567ABC0"

D "123ABC4567890"

💡 Hint

REPLACE starts at position 4 and replaces 3 characters with "ABC".

Starting at the 4th character, it removes 3 characters (4,5,6) and inserts "ABC" instead.

❓ Function Choice

advanced

Which formula replaces only the first occurrence of "cat" with "dog" in cell C1?

Cell C1 contains the text "cat cat cat". Which formula will change only the first "cat" to "dog"?

A =SUBSTITUTE(C1, "cat", "dog", 1)

B =REPLACE(C1, FIND("cat", C1), 3, "dog")

C =SUBSTITUTE(C1, "cat", "dog")

D =REPLACE(C1, 1, 3, "dog")

💡 Hint

SUBSTITUTE with the 4th argument controls which occurrence to replace.

SUBSTITUTE with occurrence 1 replaces only the first "cat". REPLACE needs position and length but option A replaces only the first occurrence too, but option A is clearer and safer.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

You want to replace the 3rd word in a sentence with "blue". Which formula is best?

Cell D1 contains "red green yellow black white". You want to replace the 3rd word "yellow" with "blue" using a formula. Which approach works best?

A =SUBSTITUTE(D1, "yellow", "blue", 3)

B =REPLACE(D1, FIND("yellow", D1), LEN("yellow"), "blue")

C =SUBSTITUTE(D1, "yellow", "blue")

D =REPLACE(D1, 12, 6, "blue")

💡 Hint

REPLACE needs the exact position and length of the text to replace.

Option B finds the position of "yellow" and replaces exactly that word with "blue". SUBSTITUTE with occurrence 3 won't work because "yellow" appears only once.

❓ data_analysis

expert

How many replacements occur with this formula?

Cell E1 contains "one two one two one two". What is the number of replacements made by =SUBSTITUTE(E1, "one", "three")?

Google Sheets

=SUBSTITUTE(E1, "one", "three")

A 0

B 1

C 2

D 3

💡 Hint

Without the 4th argument, SUBSTITUTE replaces all occurrences.

SUBSTITUTE replaces all occurrences of "one" with "three". There are 3 "one" words, so 3 replacements happen.

Practice

1. What does the SUBSTITUTE function do in Google Sheets?

easy

A. It formats cells with colors.

B. It changes text based on position and length.

C. It adds numbers together.

D. It replaces specific text by matching exact words or letters.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand SUBSTITUTE purpose

   The SUBSTITUTE function looks for specific text and replaces it exactly where it matches.

2. Step 2: Compare with REPLACE

   Unlike REPLACE, SUBSTITUTE does not use position but matches text content.

3. Final Answer:

   It replaces specific text by matching exact words or letters. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   SUBSTITUTE = Replace by matching text [OK]

Hint: SUBSTITUTE changes text by matching words, not positions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing SUBSTITUTE with REPLACE
• Thinking SUBSTITUTE works by position
• Assuming SUBSTITUTE changes numbers

2. Which of these is the correct syntax for the REPLACE function in Google Sheets?

easy

A. REPLACE(text, start_num, num_chars, new_text)

B. REPLACE(text, old_text, new_text)

C. REPLACE(old_text, new_text, instance_num)

D. REPLACE(text, new_text, start_num)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall REPLACE syntax

   REPLACE requires the original text, the start position, number of characters to replace, and the new text.

2. Step 2: Check options

   Only REPLACE(text, start_num, num_chars, new_text) matches this order and parameters correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   REPLACE(text, start_num, num_chars, new_text) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   REPLACE syntax = text, start, length, new text [OK]

Hint: REPLACE needs position and length, SUBSTITUTE needs old text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing parameter order
• Using old_text instead of start_num
• Omitting number of characters to replace

3. Given cell A1 contains the text "apple banana apple", what is the result of =SUBSTITUTE(A1, "apple", "orange", 2)?

medium

A. "orange banana orange"

B. "orange banana apple"

C. "apple banana orange"

D. "apple banana apple"

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand SUBSTITUTE with instance number

   The formula replaces only the 2nd occurrence of "apple" with "orange".

2. Step 2: Apply replacement

   First "apple" stays, second "apple" changes to "orange" resulting in "apple banana orange".

3. Final Answer:

   "apple banana orange" -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   SUBSTITUTE replaces 2nd 'apple' only [OK]

Hint: Use 4th SUBSTITUTE argument to replace specific occurrence [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Replacing all occurrences instead of one
• Replacing first occurrence by mistake
• Confusing SUBSTITUTE with REPLACE

4. You want to replace the first 3 letters of the text in cell B2 with "XYZ". Which formula fixes the error in this incorrect formula: =SUBSTITUTE(B2, 1, 3, "XYZ")?

medium

A. =REPLACE(B2, "1", "3", "XYZ")

B. =REPLACE(B2, 1, 3, "XYZ")

C. =SUBSTITUTE(B2, "1", "XYZ", 3)

D. =SUBSTITUTE(B2, 3, 1, "XYZ")

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify misuse of SUBSTITUTE

   SUBSTITUTE does not use position or length, so it cannot replace by position.

2. Step 2: Use REPLACE for position-based replacement

   REPLACE takes start position, length, and new text, so =REPLACE(B2, 1, 3, "XYZ") is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   =REPLACE(B2, 1, 3, "XYZ") -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use REPLACE for position-based text changes [OK]

Hint: Use REPLACE to change text by position, not SUBSTITUTE [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using SUBSTITUTE with numbers as positions
• Swapping parameters order
• Using quotes incorrectly around numbers

5. You have a list of product codes in column A like "AB12345". You want to replace the first two letters with "X5" and also replace all occurrences of "5" with "9" in the same formula. Which formula achieves this?

hard

A. =SUBSTITUTE(REPLACE(A1, 1, 2, "X5"), "5", "9")

B. =REPLACE(SUBSTITUTE(A1, "5", "9"), 1, 2, "X5")

C. =SUBSTITUTE(A1, LEFT(A1, 2), "X5")

D. =REPLACE(A1, 1, 2, "X5") & SUBSTITUTE(A1, "5", "9")

Solution

1. Step 1: Replace first two letters with REPLACE

   REPLACE(A1, 1, 2, "X5") changes first two letters to "X5".

2. Step 2: Replace all "5" with "9" using SUBSTITUTE

   SUBSTITUTE(..., "5", "9") changes all 5's to 9's in the updated text.

3. Step 3: Combine functions correctly

   Applying REPLACE first, then SUBSTITUTE on result is correct, matching =SUBSTITUTE(REPLACE(A1, 1, 2, "X5"), "5", "9").

4. Final Answer:

   =SUBSTITUTE(REPLACE(A1, 1, 2, "X5"), "5", "9") -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Chain REPLACE then SUBSTITUTE for combined changes [OK]

Hint: Nest REPLACE inside SUBSTITUTE to combine position and text changes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Applying SUBSTITUTE before REPLACE causing wrong results
• Concatenating results instead of nesting
• Using SUBSTITUTE to replace by position