Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 16, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
When you are entering information in a cell, Excel recognizes the information as a formula if you start it with the equal sign. If you are entering lots of numeric information, you may find it a bother to continually move your hand away from the numeric keypad to enter the requisite equal sign for each cell.
One way to handle this is to begin each cell with a plus sign instead of the equal sign. When you press Enter at the end of the formula you are entering, Excel automatically converts the leading plus sign to an equal sign.
There is a caveat to this "plus sign behavior." If you type either of the following, the plus sign does not go away:
+A1+A2 +SUM(A1:A2)
Excel converts to these:
=+A1+A2 =+SUM(A1:A2)
However, if the first operand is a numeric constant, then a conversion takes place:
+25+A2
Excel converts to this:
=25+A2
It is interesting that if you place a plus sign in front of a date, it defeats Excel's automatic date parsing and causes it to be parsed as a formula:
+11-21-15
Excel converts to this, replacing the plus sign with an equal sign and displaying a result of -25:
=11-21-13
You get a similar parsing result if you use a different delimiter, as in +11/21/15.
The bottom line is that for those who use the numeric keypad to enter formulas that consist of numbers, this can be a real plus (no pun intended) since you don't have to move your hand to enter a leading plus sign, as you would for a leading equal sign.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2351) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Starting Out Formulas.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
A moving average can be a great way to analyze a series of data points that you've collected over time. Setting up a ...
Discover MoreWant to know how to move pieces of information contained in one cell into individual cells? This option exists in using ...
Discover MoreIf you have a large amount of data in a worksheet and you want to extract information from the text that meets certain ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments