Excel TRIM Function

TRIM Function

The TRIM function is premade in Excel and used to remove irregular text spacing and keep single spaces between words.

It is typed =TRIM

If you want to use the function on a single cell, write:

  =TRIM(cell)

If you want to use the function on a range of cells, write:

  =TRIM(start cell:end cell)

Note: Irregular spacing is unnecessary spacing within the dataset that can occur before, after or between text or numbers within a cell.

Example TRIM Function

Use Trim to tidy up irregular spaces in the dataset within the range A2:C21.

Note: To define the range, separate the range values with a colon symbol :

How to Use TRIM Function

Step 1) Start the TRIM function

• Select a cell E2
• Type =TRIM
• Double click the TRIM command

Step 2) Select a range of cells to be used in the TRIM function

• Select a range (A2:C21)
• Hit enter

    Mankey	  Fighting	305
      Poliwrath	Water	510
    Victreebel	  Grass	490
      Tentacool	 Water	335
    Magneton	    Electric	465
    Dewgong	Water	475
      Cloyster	  Water	525
     Onix	Rock	385
     Dragonair	Dragon	420
      Pidgeotto	 Normal	349
    Rattata	  Normal	253
    Beedrill	Bug	395
    Doduo	   Normal	310
    Kingler	Water	475
    Nidoqueen	  Poison	505
    Hitmonchan	Fighting	455
      Charmeleon	Fire	405
    Arbok	Poison	438
    Gastly	             Ghost	310
     Magikarp	Water	200

Try It! Copy the values in the example above and try it on your own! The range of values will be tidied up.

The function returns a dataset formatted without irregular spaces:

Step 3) Use the TRIM function with spacing between text:

Use =TRIM function by following the steps in the example above to format the text:

The text looks much better now!