How to Delete Column in Excel
In this tutorial, it will be explained about how to delete column in excel. The way of how to remove columns in excel is needed to be understood so you can throw away the vertical parts of the data in your sheet that you do not need anymore fast and easy.
Why do We Need to Learn How to Get Rid of Columns in Excel?
When doing spreadsheet data processing, sometimes we need to get rid of one or more vertical parts in our data on a worksheet. This is needed when we want to remove the data parts which are not needed anymore or when we want to reorganize our table. If we do not understand the spreadsheet function which can be used to do the process easily, then it will be very troublesome because that means we must get rid of the contents in the vertical parts one by one.
As an example of this need in our work, let’s say we are checking our company product data where each of the data variables for every product is placed in the form of columns. Maybe there are some variables that are not given or measured again by the company for all the products so they need to be removed from the product data table. If we do not understand how to delete column in excel, then we must remove the contents of the vertical parts that we want to get rid of by removing them one by one before probably reorganizing the product data table so it will not have missing parts in it. Of course, it will take a lot of time when actually we can do the process fast if we know the way to do it.
There are three methods that can be utilized to remove columns in excel. It will be better if you can understand at least one of the three methods so you will not be confused when you need to get rid of some vertical parts in your data as needed in the case example above.
What is How to Delete Column in Excel?
How to delete column in excel is a spreadsheet function with the usage objective to remove one or more vertical parts of a sheet. This function is often needed when you need to get rid of the data parts or processes that you do not need anymore in your spreadsheet file.
How to Remove Columns in Excel?
The following part will explain the three methods of how to delete column in excel. Actually, you need to understand just one of these three methods because the three of them will produce the same result.
Method 1 - Delete Column Menu
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Highlight the vertical parts where you want to get rid of the contents by clicking their letters on the top (Highlight as many as you need to remove by doing a drag)
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Click Delete in the Home tab
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Done!
Method 2 - Right-Click
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Highlight the vertical parts where you want to get rid of the contents by clicking their letters on the top (Highlight as many as you need to remove by doing a drag)
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Right-click and choose Delete
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Done!
Method 3 - Shortcut Buttons
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Place your cursor on the cells where you want to remove all your entries vertically (Highlight the number of columns as you need for the deletion process)
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Press Ctrl + Space Bar (Control + Space Bar on Mac) buttons simultaneously
- Press Ctrl + - (Command + - on Mac) buttons simultaneously
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Done!
Exercise
After understanding the steps for applying the three methods of how to delete column in excel, now is the time you deepen your understanding of them by doing the exercise below!
Open a spreadsheet file and try to delete some of its vertical parts by using each of the three methods. How is the result? Can you do it?
Additional Note
Be careful when you want to remove your columns. If one of the cells in them is a reference for a formula, then the formula will result in error by the time the removal process is done!
