Excel Formula to Add Apostrophe Before and After Number

Are you working with Excel spreadsheets and need to add apostrophes before and after numbers? This can be a common requirement when dealing with data that needs to be formatted in a specific way, such as for importing into another system or for presentation purposes. In this article, we’ll provide you with the Excel formula to add apostrophe before and after number, as well as explore some alternate methods to achieve the same result.

Formula to Add Apostrophe Before and After Number in Excel

The formula to add apostrophe before and after a number in Excel is:

=”‘”&A1&”‘”

Where A1 is the cell containing the number you want to format. This formula concatenates an apostrophe before and after the number, resulting in a text string with the desired formatting.

Why Add Apostrophes Before and After Numbers?

There are several reasons why you might need to add apostrophes before and after numbers in Excel:

1. Preserving leading zeros: When importing data into another system, leading zeros in numbers may be lost. Adding apostrophes ensures that the leading zeros are preserved.
2. Formatting for text imports: Some systems require data to be formatted as text, and adding apostrophes is one way to achieve this.
3. Visually distinguishing numbers: Apostrophes can help visually distinguish numbers from other types of data in your spreadsheet.
4. Ensuring consistent formatting: When working with large datasets, adding apostrophes can help maintain consistent formatting across all numbers.
5. Preventing auto-formatting: Excel may automatically format certain numbers, such as those resembling dates or phone numbers. Adding apostrophes prevents this auto-formatting from occurring.

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Apostrophes to Numbers

Let’s walk through the process of adding apostrophes before and after numbers in Excel.

Step 1: Identify the cell containing the number

First, identify the cell that contains the number you want to format. In this example, let’s assume the number is in cell A1.

Step 2: Enter the formula in a new cell

In a new cell, enter the following formula:

=”‘”&A1&”‘”

This formula concatenates an apostrophe before and after the number in cell A1.

Step 3: Press Enter to see the result

After entering the formula, press Enter. The result will be the number from cell A1 with apostrophes added before and after it.

Step 4: Copy the formula to other cells (optional)

If you have multiple numbers you need to format, you can copy the formula to other cells. Simply click and drag the fill handle (the small square in the bottom-right corner of the cell) to apply the formula to adjacent cells.

Handling Different Number Formats

The formula =”‘”&A1&”‘” works well for most number formats, but there are a few cases where you might need to modify it slightly.

Numbers with decimals

If your numbers include decimals, the formula will work as-is. For example, if cell A1 contains the number 3.14, the formula =”‘”&A1&”‘” will result in ‘3.14’.

Negative numbers

The formula also handles negative numbers without any issues. If cell A1 contains the number -10, the formula =”‘”&A1&”‘” will result in ‘-10’.

Numbers stored as text

If your numbers are already stored as text in Excel, you can use a slightly simpler formula:

=”‘”&A1&”‘”

This formula adds apostrophes before and after the text string in cell A1.

Numbers with commas or other special characters

If your numbers contain commas or other special characters, the formula will include those characters within the apostrophes. For example, if cell A1 contains the number 1,000, the formula =”‘”&A1&”‘” will result in ‘1,000’.

Alternate Methods to Add Apostrophes

While the formula =”‘”&A1&”‘” is the most straightforward way to add apostrophes before and after numbers in Excel, there are a few alternate methods you can use.

Method 1: Using the CONCATENATE function

Excel’s CONCATENATE function allows you to join together multiple text strings. You can use this function to add apostrophes before and after a number:

=CONCATENATE(“‘”,A1,”‘”)

This formula concatenates an apostrophe, the number in cell A1, and another apostrophe, resulting in the same formatted text string as the previous formula.

Method 2: Using the TEXT function

The TEXT function in Excel allows you to format a number as text with a specific format. You can use this function to add apostrophes before and after a number:

=TEXT(A1,”‘@'”)

In this formula, the “@” symbol represents the number in cell A1, and the apostrophes before and after it add the desired formatting.

Method 3: Using a custom number format

Excel allows you to create custom number formats that can include text elements like apostrophes. To add apostrophes before and after a number using a custom number format:

1. Select the cell or range of cells containing the numbers you want to format.
2. Right-click and choose “Format Cells” from the context menu.
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the “Number” tab.
4. Choose “Custom” from the Category list.
5. In the Type field, enter the following custom format:

“‘”#,##0″‘”

6. Click OK to apply the custom number format.

This custom number format will display the number with apostrophes before and after it, without changing the underlying value.

Applying the Formula to Multiple Cells

If you have a large dataset with many numbers that need apostrophes added, you can apply the formula to multiple cells at once.

1. Enter the formula in the first cell where you want the formatted result to appear.
2. Click and drag the fill handle (the small square in the bottom-right corner of the cell) to apply the formula to adjacent cells.
3. Release the mouse button when you’ve highlighted all the cells you want to fill.

Excel will automatically adjust the cell references in the formula for each row, so you’ll get the correct result for each number.

Removing Apostrophes from Numbers

If you have numbers formatted with apostrophes and need to remove the apostrophes, you can use the following formula:

=VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,”‘”,””))

This formula uses the SUBSTITUTE function to remove the apostrophes from the text string in cell A1, and then the VALUE function converts the resulting text string back into a number.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

#VALUE! error

If you see a #VALUE! error when using the formula to add apostrophes, it typically means that the cell you’re referring to doesn’t contain a valid number. Double-check that the cell contains a number and not text or an error value.

Apostrophes not appearing

If the apostrophes aren’t appearing when you use the formula, ensure that the cell formatting is set to “General” or “Text”. If the cell is formatted as a number, the apostrophes may be hidden.

Final Thoughts

Adding apostrophes before and after numbers in Excel is a straightforward process using the formula =”‘”&A1&”‘”. This formula concatenates an apostrophe before and after the number in cell A1, resulting in a text string with the desired formatting. Whether you need to preserve leading zeros, format numbers as text for importing, visually distinguish numbers, ensure consistent formatting, or prevent auto-formatting, this formula provides a quick and easy solution.

In addition to the primary formula, we’ve explored some alternate methods to achieve the same result, including using the CONCATENATE function, the TEXT function, and custom number formats. These methods offer flexibility and can be useful in different situations.

FAQs

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.