Microsoft Excel

Merge and Center

Chris Menard

Chris Menard

— 1 min read
Merge and Center

It is tempting to use merge and center in Excel. It stands out when you open Excel. Avoid merge and center. Three reasons why merge and center is evil:

1. Data with Merge and Center can't be sorted. 2. Remove Duplicates, another great Excel feature, doesn't work with merge and center. 3. Selecting a column with the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Space doesn't work.

To unmerge all cells at one time

1. **Select All** the cells on the worksheet. 2. Click the **Merge & Center** down arrow. 3. Select **Unmerge Cells.**

YouTube Video - Merge & Center is evil!

Excel: Merge & Center is evil! Three examples of Merge & Center creating problems by Chris Menard

Keyboard shortcuts used in the video

- **CTRL + Space** to select a column. - **SHIFT + Space** to select a row.

Read more