How to Remove Apostrophe in Excel Before Number

Using Text to Columns

Excel's Text to Columns tool can strip leading apostrophes from numbers. Select the affected cells, navigate to the Data tab, and click on 'Text to Columns'. Choose 'Delimited', click 'Next', uncheck all delimiters, and finalize by clicking 'Finish'.

Paste as Values

To remove apostrophes, copy the cells and use the 'Paste as Values' tool under the Home tab. This method can resolve apostrophe issues, especially when combined with Text to Columns if the first attempt fails.

Using Kutools for Excel

Kutools for Excel provides a one-click solution to eliminate leading apostrophes and convert text-formatted numbers to standard numbers. Install Kutools, select the cells, and apply the appropriate tool.

Find and Replace Method

The Find and Replace functionality can quickly remove apostrophes. Press Ctrl+F, switch to the Replace tab, enter an apostrophe in the 'Find what' box, leave the 'Replace with' box empty, and click 'Replace All'.

Applying Excel Formulas

Utilize the VALUE function to convert text to numbers, effectively dropping the apostrophe. Enter =VALUE(A1) in a new cell, where A1 is your text-formatted number, and then copy the formula as needed.

Clear Formats Tool

Excel’s Clear Formats tool can sometimes resolve the issue by removing text formatting from numbers. Select the cells, go to the Home tab, and click on 'Clear' and choose 'Clear Formats'.

VBA Macro Method

For bulk data, a VBA macro efficiently removes all leading apostrophes. Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA editor, insert a new module, and write the provided code snippet. Execute the macro to cleanse multiple cells simultaneously.

Common Use Cases

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  Correcting formatting issues when importing numbers from CSV files
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  Preparing numeric data for mathematical operations and analysis
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  Cleaning data sets that include numbers with leading apostrophes due to text formatting
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  Standardizing number formats before merging multiple Excel sheets
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  Ensuring accurate number recognition for pivot tables and charts

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