Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Number Formatting Shortcuts.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 22, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
The typical way that people apply formatting to cells is to use the tools on the toolbars or to display the Format Cells dialog box and make formatting choices. For those who prefer to not remove their hands from the keyboard, however, Excel also provides a number of handy shortcuts you can use to format your cells.
| Shortcut | Effect | |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+Shift+~ | General format | |
| Ctrl+Shift+! | Number format with two decimal places and thousands separator | |
| Ctrl+Shift+$ | Currency format with two decimal places and negatives in parentheses | |
| Ctrl+Shift+# | Date format | |
| Ctrl+Shift+@ | Time format with minutes and am/pm | |
| Ctrl+Shift+% | Percentage format with no decimal places | |
| Ctrl+Shift+^ | Scientific notation with two decimal places |
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2987) 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: Number Formatting Shortcuts.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
When your macro checks the formatting used for a cell, it needs to be careful that the type of formatting being checked ...
Discover MoreIf you want to format currency values so that Excel uses periods between groups of thousands and commas as a decimal ...
Discover MoreProfessional typesetting has, in many ways, spoiled us. One way this is evident is in the preference we show for making ...
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