Basic Formatting Techniques in Excel

This tutorial will show you basic formatting in Excel. Follow along with the exercise file. If needed, click on Enable Editing at the top to be able to edit the file.

Steps to Basic Formatting in Excel

1. Open the Exercise File: Download and open the exercise file. Click on Enable Editing if prompted.
2. Select the Cells: Click and drag to select the cells you want to format.
3. Apply Bold and Italic: Go to the Home tab and click on the B (Bold) and I (Italic) buttons in the Font group to apply bold and italic formatting.
4. Change Font Size and Color: In the Home tab, use the Font Size dropdown to change the font size and the Font Color button to change the font color.
5. Apply Borders: With the cells selected, click on the Borders button in the Home tab and choose the type of border you want to apply.
6. Fill Color: Click on the Fill Color button in the Home tab to apply a background color to the selected cells.
7. Align Text: Use the Alignment group in the Home tab to align your text to the left, center, or right, and to adjust the vertical alignment.
8. Format Numbers: Select the cells with numbers, then use the Number group in the Home tab to apply number formatting, such as currency, percentage, or date.

Hints and Tips

• Use Conditional Formatting: Highlight important data by using conditional formatting. Go to the Home tab, click on Conditional Formatting, and choose a rule to apply.
• Use Cell Styles: Quickly apply a set of formatting options by using cell styles. In the Home tab, click on Cell Styles and choose a style that fits your needs.
• Freeze Panes: Keep headers visible while scrolling by freezing panes. Go to the View tab, click on Freeze Panes, and choose the option that works best for your data.

Build your Excel skills further: Want to develop these skills with an instructor? View our Microsoft Excel training courses for live online, onsite and tailored Excel training.