ENTERING AND
FORMATTING DATA IN
EXCEL
Lesson 3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Enter various types of data into an Excel worksheet.
2. Format cells to enhance readability and visual appeal.
3. Apply number formatting (e.g., currency, percentage, date).
4. Align content and manage cell appearance with borders and colors.
5. Use merge and center tools to create professional-looking headers.
ENTERING DATA INTO CELLS
Excel cells can hold different types of data. Before we format anything, we
need to understand how to properly input and organize the data.
How to Enter Data:
• Click a cell (e.g., A1).
• Type the information (e.g., "Name", "1500", or a date like "7/3/2025").
• Press:
• Enter → to move down
• Tab → to move right
• Esc → to cancel entry
Excel aligns:
• Text to the left by default
• Numbers and dates to the right
MODIFYING OR DELETING
DATA
Mistakes happen—Excel makes it easy to fix them.
To Modify:
• Double-click a cell (or press F2) to edit directly.
• Or select the cell and update in the Formula Bar above the worksheet.
To Delete:
• Click a cell and press Delete to remove its contents.
• Select multiple cells and delete them all at once.
Example:
You entered 5200 in B2, but it should be 2500.
• Double-click B2 and change it to 2500.
FORMATTING DATA FOR BETTER
APPEARANCE
• Formatting doesn't change the data itself—only how it looks. This is important
for making your worksheets more understandable and professional.
A. Text Formatting
Feature Use Example
Highlight headers or
Bold Bold the word Total
key data
Italic For emphasis or notes Italicize remarks
Draw attention to
Underline Underline the total row
subtotals or totals
Make titles or headers Increase font size of
Font Size
stand out title
Red text for overdue
Font Color Use color coding
payments
FORMATTING DATA FOR BETTER
APPEARANCE
B. Cell Alignment
Proper alignment improves the clarity and symmetry of your data.
Alignment Type Function Example
Left Default for text Names
Default for
Right Currency, sales values
numbers/dates
Centered month
Center For headings or labels
names
Shows long text across
Wrap Text Custo
multiple lines
FORMATTING DATA FOR BETTER
APPEARANCE
C. Number Formatting
Excel treats numbers differently depending on how you want them displayed.
Formatting ensures accuracy and professionalism.
Format Purpose Example
General Default (unformatted) 4500.5
Adds commas,
Number 4,500.50
decimal points
Displays money with
Currency ₱4,500.50, $1,200.00
symbol
Percent Converts decimal to % 0.25 → 25%
Displays values as
Date 07/03/2025
valid dates
FORMATTING DATA FOR BETTER
APPEARANCE
D. Borders and Fill Color
Adding borders and colors helps define sections and improve visual clarity.
Feature Description Use Case
Draw lines around or Table borders,
Borders
inside cells headings
Highlight headers or
Fill Color Yellow fill for totals row
groups visually
FORMATTING DATA FOR BETTER
APPEARANCE
4. Merge and Center
When you want a title to appear across multiple columns, use Merge and Center.
Steps:
• Select the cells to merge (e.g., A1 to D1).
• Click Merge & Center on the Home tab.
PRACTICE ACTIVITY – CREATE A
PERSONAL BUDGET TABLE
Instructions:
1. Open a new Excel workbook.
2. Enter the following data starting from cell A3:
PRACTICE ACTIVITY – CREATE A
PERSONAL BUDGET TABLE
3. Apply the following formatting:
• Bold the header row (A3:C3).
• Format the Amount column (B4:B7) as Currency (₱).
• Center-align the Category column (C4:C7).
• Add borders around the entire table (A3:C7).
• Apply a fill color (any light shade) to the header row.
• In cell A1, type the title: Monthly Budget Planner
• Merge and center the cells A1 to C1.
• Bold the title and increase the font size for emphasis.
When complete, review your table for accuracy and design consistency.
