SPLIT function in Google Sheets - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

The SPLIT function breaks text into separate pieces based on a character you choose. It helps you separate words or numbers that are stuck together in one cell into multiple cells.

When you have a list of full names in one cell and want to separate first and last names.

When you receive data with items separated by commas and want each item in its own cell.

When you want to split a date or time that is written as text with dashes or colons.

When you want to separate a list of email addresses separated by semicolons.

When you want to break apart product codes that use a special symbol as a divider.

Steps

Step 1: Click

- a blank cell where you want the split results to start

The cell is selected and ready for input

Step 2: Type

- the formula bar

You start entering the SPLIT formula

💡 Start with an equal sign (=) to begin the formula

Step 3: Enter

- the formula bar

The formula is complete and ready to run

💡 Use the syntax: =SPLIT(text, delimiter)

Step 4: Press

- Enter key

The text splits into separate cells based on the delimiter

Step 5: Adjust

- the delimiter in the formula if needed

The split changes to match the new delimiter

Before vs After

Before

Cell A1 contains: "apple,banana,orange" all in one cell

After

Cells B1, C1, and D1 contain: "apple" | "banana" | "orange" each in its own cell

Settings Reference

text

📍 first argument in the SPLIT formula

The text you want to split

Default: none

delimiter

📍 second argument in the SPLIT formula

The character(s) that mark where to split the text

Default: none

split_by_each

📍 optional third argument in the SPLIT formula

If TRUE, splits at each character in delimiter; if FALSE, splits only at the whole delimiter string

Default: TRUE

remove_empty_text

📍 optional fourth argument in the SPLIT formula

If TRUE, empty cells from consecutive delimiters are removed

Default: TRUE

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong delimiter character in the formula

The SPLIT function won't separate the text correctly if the delimiter does not match the actual separator in the text

Check the text carefully and use the exact character(s) that separate the parts, like a comma, space, or dash

Not putting text strings inside quotes

Google Sheets treats unquoted text as cell references, causing errors if the cell does not exist

Always put text strings in double quotes, for example: =SPLIT("apple,banana", ",")

Expecting SPLIT to work vertically by default

SPLIT outputs results horizontally across columns, not down rows

Use TRANSPOSE function if you want to convert the horizontal split results into a vertical list

Summary

SPLIT breaks text into multiple cells using a chosen separator.

You must specify the text and the delimiter in the formula.

By default, SPLIT separates text horizontally across columns.

Practice

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

easy

A. It finds the largest number in a list.

B. It breaks text into parts based on a separator.

C. It changes text to uppercase.

D. It adds numbers together.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of SPLIT

   The SPLIT function is designed to separate text into smaller pieces using a character or characters as a divider.

2. Step 2: Compare options with SPLIT's function

   Only It breaks text into parts based on a separator. describes breaking text into parts, which matches SPLIT's behavior.

3. Final Answer:

   It breaks text into parts based on a separator. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   SPLIT breaks text = It breaks text into parts based on a separator. [OK]

Hint: Remember: SPLIT cuts text by chosen characters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing SPLIT with math functions
• Thinking SPLIT changes text case
• Assuming SPLIT finds max or min values

2. Which of these is the correct syntax to split the text in cell A1 by commas?

easy

A. =SPLIT(A1, ";")

B. =SPLIT(A1; ",")

C. =SPLIT(A1, ",")

D. =SPLIT(A1)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct separator and syntax

   The SPLIT function requires the text and the separator as arguments, separated by commas. The separator here is a comma ",".

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   =SPLIT(A1, ",") uses commas correctly and the right separator. =SPLIT(A1; ",") uses semicolon which is invalid in Google Sheets formulas. =SPLIT(A1, ";") uses wrong separator ";". =SPLIT(A1) misses the separator argument.

3. Final Answer:

   =SPLIT(A1, ",") -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax with comma separator = =SPLIT(A1, ",") [OK]

Hint: Use commas to separate arguments, specify separator in quotes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using semicolons instead of commas
• Forgetting to put separator in quotes
• Omitting the separator argument

3. Given cell A1 contains "apple,banana,cherry", what will =SPLIT(A1, ",") return?

medium

A. ["apple,banana,cherry"] as one cell

B. Error because separator is missing

C. ["apple"; "banana"; "cherry"] in separate cells vertically

D. ["apple", "banana", "cherry"] in separate cells horizontally

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand SPLIT behavior with comma separator

   SPLIT breaks text at each comma and places each piece in adjacent cells horizontally by default.

2. Step 2: Analyze the output for given input

   Input text "apple,banana,cherry" splits into "apple", "banana", and "cherry" placed side by side in cells.

3. Final Answer:

   ["apple", "banana", "cherry"] in separate cells horizontally -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Split by comma = horizontal cells with parts [OK]

Hint: SPLIT places parts horizontally by default [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting vertical split without specifying
• Thinking output stays in one cell
• Confusing separator presence

4. The formula =SPLIT(A1, ",", "TRUE") gives an error. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The third argument TRUE is invalid for SPLIT.

B. The separator must be a number, not a string.

C. The separator argument is missing.

D. SPLIT does not accept more than two arguments.

Solution

1. Step 1: Review SPLIT function arguments

   SPLIT accepts up to four arguments: text, delimiter, split_by_each (TRUE/FALSE), and remove_empty_text (TRUE/FALSE). The third argument is split_by_each and must be a boolean.

2. Step 2: Check if TRUE is valid here

   The third argument is "TRUE" (a string), but SPLIT expects a boolean TRUE/FALSE (without quotes) for split_by_each. A string causes a type mismatch error.

3. Final Answer:

   The third argument TRUE is invalid for SPLIT. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Check argument types carefully [OK]

Hint: Check argument count and types carefully [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming SPLIT only takes two arguments
• Confusing separator type requirements
• Ignoring optional arguments

5. You have a cell A1 with text "John;Doe;30;New York". How do you split this text into separate cells vertically (one below another) using SPLIT?

hard

A. =TRANSPOSE(SPLIT(A1, ";"))

B. =SPLIT(A1, ";", TRUE)

C. =SPLIT(A1, ";", FALSE, TRUE)

D. =SPLIT(A1, ";")

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand SPLIT default behavior

   SPLIT splits text into cells horizontally by default, so the parts appear side by side.

2. Step 2: Use TRANSPOSE to convert horizontal output to vertical

   Wrapping SPLIT with TRANSPOSE changes the horizontal array into a vertical one, placing each part in cells below each other.

3. Final Answer:

   =TRANSPOSE(SPLIT(A1, ";")) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use TRANSPOSE to switch horizontal to vertical [OK]

Hint: Wrap SPLIT with TRANSPOSE for vertical output [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting SPLIT alone to split vertically
• Misusing optional arguments for vertical split
• Forgetting to use TRANSPOSE for vertical layout