Some summers ago, I wrote a Computer Corner article on how to use the sigma summer to sum numbers in Excel. You click the cell where you want a sum to appear, click the sigma button, drag-grab the list of numbers to sum, and hit Enter. Instant math. It works the same way in Google Sheets. I’m so spoiled, I use it even to add just two numbers together.
But that was numbers. That was then and this is now. Now I have words that need to be combined. Does the sigma summer work on words? I tried. Excel said, “No entiendo, jefa.”
Picture if you will, a long list of this words and a long list of that words. Together, they could move mountains. But individually, they are helpless little this and thats.
Can’t picture it? How about that mailing list with first name in one column and last name in another column, but you need the whole name in one place?
Sometimes we are forced to squeeze this and that together. Sure, we can do that by typing each part consecutively in the same place:
This That
Then the next one.
This Thet
Oops, back up. Correct the typo. Now type the next pair. Now call the organizer and ask for more time.
Maybe it’s time to pull out that Computer Corner article Amy wrote about adding words together. Oops, I still have to write it. Here we go. Just imagine a two-column list in Excel:
- Type the Equal sign in a new column.
- Click the first word.
- Type the & sign.
- Click the second word.
=A1&B1 - Hit Enter. Instant word math.
ThisThat
Hm. That’s too close together.
Click into the formula and squeeze in a space with more &’s. Put quotes around the space or else Excel won’t get the hint:
=A1&” “&B1
Hit Enter.
This That
Nice. Can we up the ante? Click into the formula and add more junk to the end:
=A1&” “&B1&” and the Other”
Hit Enter.
This That and the Other
Beautiful. Now copy that formula down the entire list. It’s breathtaking. Once you master the ampersand and quotes, you’ll be looking under rocks for any list to mash up lickety split.