3 Ways To Remove First 2 Characters In Excel

When working with data in Excel, it's not uncommon to encounter situations where you need to manipulate text strings to better suit your needs. One such scenario is when you want to remove the first two characters from a string of text. This can be due to various reasons such as correcting formatting issues, removing unnecessary prefixes, or standardizing data for analysis. Removing the first two characters can be achieved in several ways, and the method you choose often depends on your familiarity with Excel functions and the specific requirements of your task.

Using the RIGHT Function

One of the straightforward methods to remove the first two characters from a text string in Excel is by using the RIGHT function. The RIGHT function returns a specified number of characters from the end of a text string. By combining it with the LEN function, which calculates the length of a text string, you can easily remove the first two characters.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the result.
2. Type =RIGHT(A1, LEN(A1)-2), assuming the text you want to modify is in cell A1.
3. Press Enter to see the result.

How It Works:

• LEN(A1) calculates the total length of the text string in cell A1.
• Subtracting 2 from this length gives you the number of characters you want to keep from the right.
• RIGHT(A1, LEN(A1)-2) then returns this specified number of characters, effectively removing the first two characters.

Using the MID Function

Another approach is to use the MID function, which extracts a specified number of characters from a text string, starting at a specified position. Since you want to remove the first two characters, you'll start extracting from the third character.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the result.
2. Type =MID(A1, 3, LEN(A1)), assuming the text you want to modify is in cell A1.
3. Press Enter to see the result.

How It Works:

• The MID function starts extracting characters from the third position (3) because the count starts at 1.
• LEN(A1) tells it to extract all characters until the end of the string.
• This effectively skips the first two characters, achieving the desired result.

Using the SUBSTITUTE and REPT Functions

For those looking for a more creative solution or who might not be comfortable with the functions above, you can use a combination of the SUBSTITUTE and REPT functions, though this method is more convoluted and generally less recommended for this specific task.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. This method involves creating a string of two characters that you can then substitute with nothing effectively removing them. However, due to its complexity and less direct approach, it's not typically recommended for removing the first two characters.

Choosing the Best Method

• RIGHT Function: Best for most scenarios due to its straightforward approach and simplicity.
• MID Function: Offers more control and can be adapted to various string manipulation tasks beyond just removing the first two characters.
• SUBSTITUTE and REPT Functions: Less recommended for this specific task due to complexity but demonstrates the versatility of Excel's text manipulation functions.

Excel Functions for Text Manipulation

In conclusion, removing the first two characters from a text string in Excel can be efficiently achieved using the RIGHT or MID functions, each offering a straightforward and effective solution for this common text manipulation task.