Text
Taking the first three characters
Definition
Taking the first three characters means giving LEFT a word and the length 3.
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. This lesson uses 3. |
Worked example
A map list stores place names in B2:B4.
| A: Pin | B: Place |
|---|---|
| 1 | River |
| 2 | South |
| 3 | West |
Formula: =LEFT(B2,3)
Result: Riv. The first three characters of River are Riv.
Practice
Cell A2 holds World. 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 World, so the first 3 characters are Wor.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
B2 uses LEFT.
B2 now shows Wor.
The next lesson is Taking the last three characters.
Related functions
LEFT is the function that returns those first three characters.
Common mistake
Taking only two characters, as in =LEFT(B2,2): that returns Ri, not the three-character result Riv.