How to capitalize only the first letter in Google Sheets can be a common formatting task, especially when dealing with large datasets or names. This simple trick can make your data more readable and visually appealing. In this article, we will guide you through the process of capitalizing the first letter of each cell in a Google Sheet.
Google Sheets offers several methods to capitalize text, but not all of them achieve the desired effect of capitalizing only the first letter. To ensure that only the first letter of each cell is capitalized, you can use a combination of built-in functions and custom formulas. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Select the range of cells you want to capitalize the first letter of.
2. Right-click on the selected range and choose “Format cells.”
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the “Number” tab.
4. Select “Text” from the category list.
5. Click “OK” to apply the changes.
Now, the selected cells should be formatted as text, and you can proceed to capitalize the first letter. Here are two methods you can use:
Method 1: Using the UPPER and LEFT functions
1. Select the cell where you want to display the capitalized text.
2. Enter the following formula in the formula bar:
“`
=UPPER(LEFT(A1, 1)) & LOWER(SUBSTITUTE(A1, LEFT(A1, 1), “”))
“`
Replace “A1” with the actual cell reference you want to capitalize.
3. Press Enter, and the first letter of the selected cell will be capitalized.
Method 2: Using the PROPER function
1. Select the cell where you want to display the capitalized text.
2. Enter the following formula in the formula bar:
“`
=PROPER(A1)
“`
Replace “A1” with the actual cell reference you want to capitalize.
3. Press Enter, and the first letter of the selected cell will be capitalized, along with any other lowercase letters that may have been present.
Both methods will capitalize only the first letter of the text in the selected cell. You can apply these formulas to multiple cells by dragging the fill handle at the bottom-right corner of the cell to the desired range.
By following these steps, you can easily capitalize only the first letter in Google Sheets, making your data more organized and professional-looking.
