Let's say you want to create a single Full Name column by combining two other columns, First Name and Last Name. To combine first and last names, use the CONCATENATE function or the ampersand (&) operator.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

How to copy an example

  1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
  2. Select the example in the Help topic.

    Note Do not select the row or column headers.

    selecting an example from helpSelecting an example from Help

  3. Press CTRL+C.
  4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
  5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas button.
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A B
First Name Last Name
Nancy Davolio
Andrew Fuller
Formula Description (Result)
=A2&" "&B2 Combines the names above, separated by a space (Nancy Davolio)
=B3&", "&A3 Combines the names above, separated by a comma (Fuller, Andrew)
=CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2) Combines the names above, separated by a space (Nancy Davolio)

Note To replace the formula with the results, select the cells, and on the Home tab, in the Clipbboard group, click Copy button image, click Paste button image, and then click Paste Values.

Function details