SUBSTITUTE and REPLACE in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

Sample sentences in column A, replacement words in column B, and formulas in column C demonstrating SUBSTITUTE and REPLACE functions.

Cell	Value
A1	I like apples
A2	I like apples and apples
A3	I like apples
B1	oranges
B2	bananas
B3	8
C1	SUBSTITUTE(A1, "apples", B1)
C2	SUBSTITUTE(A2, "apples", B2, 2)
C3	REPLACE(A3, B3, 6, "oranges")

Formula Trace

SUBSTITUTE(A2, "apples", B2, 2)

Step 1: A2

Step 2: "apples"

Step 3: B2

Step 4: instance_number = 2

Step 5: Find 2nd occurrence of 'apples' in 'I like apples and apples'

Step 6: Replace 2nd 'apples' with 'bananas'

Cell Reference Map

     A               B          C
1 | I like apples | oranges | SUBSTITUTE(A1, "apples", B1)
2 | I like apples and apples | bananas | SUBSTITUTE(A2, "apples", B2, 2)
3 | I like apples | 8        | REPLACE(A3, B3, 6, "oranges")

Cells A1:A3 contain original text, B1:B3 contain replacement text or position, C1:C3 contain formulas using SUBSTITUTE and REPLACE referencing these cells.

Result

     A               B          C
1 | I like apples | oranges | I like oranges
2 | I like apples and apples | bananas | I like apples and bananas
3 | I like apples | 8        | I like oranges

Column C shows the results of the formulas: C1 replaces all 'apples' with 'oranges', C2 replaces only the 2nd 'apples' with 'bananas', C3 replaces 6 characters starting at position 8 with 'oranges'.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does SUBSTITUTE(A1, "apples", B1) do?

A Replaces the 2nd 'apples' in A1 with 'oranges'

B Replaces only the first 'apples' in A1 with 'oranges'

C Replaces all 'apples' in A1 with 'oranges'

D Replaces 6 characters starting at position 3 with 'oranges'

Key Result

SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num]) replaces occurrences of old_text; REPLACE(text, start_num, num_chars, new_text) replaces characters by position.

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