Excel Tip: Split Text into Columns (First & Last Names) in seconds
Split Text into Columns in Excel — Fast & Easy Tutorial
Do you have full names, addresses, or codes stuck in one column? In this quick tutorial, I’ll show you how to use Excel’s Text to Columns tool to split data instantly.
In this video, you’ll learn:
✔ How to split first and last names into separate columns
✔ How to use different delimiters (spaces, commas, tabs, custom characters)
✔ A formula-based alternative using TEXTBEFORE and TEXTAFTER
💡LEARN MORE: Want more details on TEXTBEFORE & TEXTAFTER? Read the full blog here: https://excelerates.ca/blog/textbefor...
This is part of my Cleaning & Organizing Data series where I cover the core skills every Excel user should know:
Remove Duplicates — avoid double-counting clients, invoices, or transactions
Text to Columns — break apart names, addresses, or codes (this video!)
Coming Soon:
Trim Spaces — fix sneaky spaces that break lookups
Find & Replace — clean recurring typos or change codes in bulk
Filter by Colour, Icon, or Value — zero in on what matters most
💡 Why this matters
Messy data wastes time and creates errors. Splitting text into columns is one of the easiest ways to transform disorganized lists into clean, structured data. Whether you’re working with customer databases, sales reports, or email lists, this tool can save you hours.
Pro tip: use formulas like TEXTBEFORE and TEXTAFTER if you want a dynamic solution that updates automatically when your data changes.
👋 About Me
I’m Stef from Excelerates Spreadsheet Solutions.
I help businesses "Excelerate" their business by saving time and focussing on what matters by automating Excel workflows. From quoting tools to KPI dashboards, I build spreadsheet solutions that cut hours down to minutes.
🌐 Learn more at www.excelerates.ca
Follow me on LinkedIn : / stefcarroll
Timeline:
00:00 Intro
00:12 The problem: full names in one column
00:30 Using Text to Columns
01:38 Formula alternative with TEXTBEFORE & TEXTAFTER
#ExcelTips #ExcelTraining #ExcelShorts #TextToColumns #textbefore #TEXTAFTER #ExcelerateYourBiz