Sometimes in Excel, numbers can unexpectedly be converted into text or letters, making calculations or formatting difficult. This issue usually arises due to specific formatting or input errors. So, here are common causes and solutions to fix Excel numbers turning into text or letters:
1. Check Cell Formatting
One of the most common reasons numbers convert into text is improper cell formatting. That is to say, if the cells are formatted as “Text,” Excel will treat numbers as text, which can lead to calculations not working.
Solution:
Highlight the affected cells.
Right-click and select Format Cells.
In the Number tab, choose General or Number instead of Text.
Press OK.
If the numbers are still displayed as text, you may need to re-enter the values or use Excel’s “Text to Columns” feature to convert them back.
2. Use the Text to Columns Feature
Another effective method to fix numbers stored as text is the Text to Columns feature. This can force Excel to treat text-formatted numbers as actual numeric values. Here is a solution below.
Solution:
Select the cells with numbers in text format. Next
Go to the Data tab and select Text to Columns.
In the Convert Text to Columns Wizard, click Next until you reach the third step.
Under Column Data Format, choose General and click Finish.
This will convert the text-formatted numbers back into numeric values without the need for retyping.
3. Remove Leading Apostrophes
In some cases, Excel adds an apostrophe (‘) in front of numbers, which makes Excel treat them as text.
Solution:
- If the numbers are preceded by an apostrophe (e.g., ‘123), remove the apostrophe manually or use Excel’s Find and Replace feature:
- Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog.
- In the Find field, type
'. - Leave the Replace field blank and click Replace All.
4. Use VALUE Function
If numbers have been imported from other sources and are stuck as text, you can use Excel’s VALUE function to convert them.
Solution:
In a new cell, type =VALUE(cell_reference) where cell_reference is the location of the text-formatted number.
Press Enter, and the result will be converted into a number. You can then copy and paste the corrected value back into the original cell if needed.
Conclusion – Fix Excel Numbers Turning into Letters
Fixing numbers in Excel that have turned into text or letters is usually a matter of adjusting the formatting. This could also be accomplished by using built-in Excel tools like Text to Columns or the VALUE function. By following these steps, you can ensure your numbers are correctly formatted for calculations and proper data analysis.
