How to Break Line in Excel

Welcome to this blog that focuses on teaching you how to break line in Excel. When working with data in Excel, it is common to encounter situations where you need to split text into multiple lines within a single cell. This could be useful for formatting purposes, or to make your data more organized and easy to read. Fortunately, Excel offers several methods to break lines within cells, and this post will guide you through the different ways you can achieve this.

Using the ALT + ENTER Keyboard Shortcut

The easiest and quickest way to break line in Excel is by using the ALT + ENTER keyboard shortcut. This will insert a line break within the cell you are working on.

1. Select the cell in which you want to break the line.
2. Where you want the line break, press ALT + ENTER on your keyboard. You will see that a line break has been added to the cell and the text now appears on multiple lines.

Using the Wrap Text Feature

If you want to break lines in multiple cells, you can use the Wrap Text feature in Excel. This option will allow you to display all the text in a single cell by wrapping it within a specific cell.

1. Select the cell or cells that you want to apply the wrap text feature to.
2. In the Home tab, click on the ‘Wrap Text’ button in the Alignment group. This will wrap all the text in the selected cells to fit within the cell.

Using the CONCATENATE Function

If you have text in different cells and want to combine them into one with a line break separating them, you can use the CONCATENATE function in Excel.

1. Enter the first part of the text in one cell and the second part in another cell.
2. In a third cell, type =CONCATENATE(Cell1, ” “, Cell2).
3. Replace the ” ” with ALT + ENTER to insert a line break between the two cells. So the function will now read as =CONCATENATE(Cell1, ALT+ENTER, Cell2).
4. Press Enter and you will see that the text from the two cells is now combined into one cell with a line break separating them.

In Conclusion

Breaking lines in Excel is an essential skill for anyone working with data in the software. Whether you choose to use the ALT + ENTER keyboard shortcut,
the wrap text feature, or the concatenate function, these methods will help you break lines easily and quickly within Excel.

Using the Text to Columns Feature

If you have a large amount of data that needs to be separated into multiple lines within a single cell, you can use Excel’s Text to Columns feature. This feature allows you to split text into separate columns based on a delimiter of your choice, which can include line breaks.

1. Select the cell or range of cells that contain the data you want to split.
2. In the Data tab, click on Text to Columns.
3. Select Delimited, and then click Next.
4. Select the Delimiter that separates the text that you want to split into multiple cells. If you want to split the text based on Line Breaks, select Other and press ALT + ENTER in the box.
5. Click Next and then Finish, and your data will be separated into multiple columns based on the delimiter selected, including line breaks.

Using CONCAT Function with Line Breaks

If you prefer to work with formulas and want to concatenate two cells while including line breaks, you can use the CONCAT function.

1. Select a cell where you want to combine the text from two or more cells.
2. In the formula bar, type =CONCAT(Cell1,CHAR(10),Cell2). This will insert a line break between the text in Cell 1 and Cell 2.
3. Press Enter to complete the formula. You will see that the text from the two cells are combined into one cell, with a line break separating them.

The Importance of Line Breaks in Excel

Besides making data more readable, line breaks can enhance data visualization. Suppose you’re creating a chart that incorporates cell data that involves different options like product, size, or price. By inserting line breaks in Excel to group the data under the relevant category, you make the chart data easier to read. The line break feature provides clarity and organization to your data, making it easier to understand and draw insights from it.

In Conclusion

As we’ve discussed, breaking lines in Excel can be done in several ways, depending on your requirements. By using keyboard shortcuts like ALT + ENTER and the wrap text feature, concatenating functions, text-to-column feature, or the CONCAT formula with line breaks, you can break lines easily. Line breaks are essential to organize, sort and structure any data in Excel effectively. Including line breaks in your charts, graphs, or reports is a quick way to improve the readability and professionalism of your work.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about breaking lines in Excel:

Can I add line breaks to a single cell in Excel?

Yes, you can add line breaks to a single cell in Excel by using the ALT + ENTER keyboard shortcut. Place your cursor where you want the line break, then press ALT + ENTER. This will insert the line break within the cell.

How can I break multiple lines in Excel?

You can break multiple lines in Excel by using the Wrap Text feature. After selecting the cell or range of cells that you want to break, click on the wrap text button in the Home tab. This will let you display all your data within a single cell by wrapping it.

Can I concatenate two cells with line breaks in Excel?

Yes, you can concatenate two cells with line breaks in Excel by using the CONCATENATE function and inserting CHAR(10) where you want the line break to occur. You can also use the CONCAT function if you’re using a version of Excel that supports it.

Can I split text into multiple cells with line breaks?

Yes, you can split text into multiple cells with line breaks using Excel’s Text to Columns feature. Select the cell or range of cells that contain the data you want to split, then select Delimited and other if you want to split based on line breaks. Once selected, click Next and Finish to complete the process.

When is it appropriate to use line breaks in Excel?

Line breaks can be used in Excel when you want to make data more readable, particularly for charts, graphs, and reports. They can also organize, sort, and structure data effectively.