Text
Taking a prefix from a word
Definition
Taking a prefix from a word means giving LEFT the word and how many opening characters to keep.
Syntax
=LEFT(text, num_chars)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
text |
The cell that holds the word. |
num_chars |
How many characters to take from the start. |
Worked example
A calendar list stores month names in B2:B4. A three-letter prefix is enough for the label.
| A: Row | B: Month |
|---|---|
| 1 | August |
| 2 | October |
| 3 | January |
Formula: =LEFT(B2,3)
Result: Aug. The first three characters of August are Aug.
Practice
Cell A2 holds Friday. In B2, write a formula that returns the first 3 characters of A2.
- In B2, write a LEFT formula that takes the first 3 characters of A2.
- B2 should show the first 3 characters of A2.
Step 1 of 2
Enter =LEFT(A2,3) in B2.
A2 is Friday, so the first 3 characters are Fri.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
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B2 uses LEFT.
B2 now shows Fri.
The next lesson is Taking a suffix from a word.
Related functions
LEFT is the function that pulls that prefix from the start of the word.
Common mistake
Taking the end instead, as in =RIGHT(B2,3): the last three characters of August are ust, not the prefix Aug.