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=SUBSTITUTE()
Substitutes new_text for old_text in a text string. Use SUBSTITUTE when you want to replace specific text in a text string; use REPLACE when you want to replace any text that occurs in a specific location in a text string.
Applies To:
Excel for Microsoft 365Excel for Microsoft 365 for MacExcel 2024Excel 2024 for MacExcel 2021Excel 2021 for MacExcel 2019Excel 2016
=SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])
Hover argument names in the table for details.
Output typeText
Popularity60 / 100
VolatileNo
Dynamic ArrayNo
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◧ Arguments
| Argument | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
text |
Any type | Required | The text or the reference to a cell containing text for which you want to substitute characters. |
old_text |
Any type | Required | The text you want to replace. |
new_text |
Any type | Required | The text you want to replace old_text with. |
instance_num |
Any type | Optional | Specifies which occurrence of old_text you want to replace with new_text. If you specify instance_num, only that instance of old_text is replaced. Otherwise, every occurrence of old_text in text is changed to new_text. |
▣ Examples
▦ Data
| Cell | Value |
|---|---|
A2 |
Sales Data |
B2 |
< |
A3 |
Quarter 1, 2008 |
B3 |
< |
A4 |
Quarter 1, 2011 |
B4 |
< |
A5 |
Sales Data |
B5 |
< |
A6 |
Quarter 1, 2008 |
B6 |
< |
A7 |
Quarter 1, 2011 |
B7 |
< |
Substitutes Cost for Sales (Cost Data)
=SUBSTITUTE(A2, "Sales", "Cost")
Result:
Cost Data
Substitutes first instance of "1" with "2" (Quarter 2, 2008)
=SUBSTITUTE(A3, "1", "2", 1)
Result:
Quarter 2, 2008
Substitutes third instance of "1" with "2" (Quarter 1, 2012)
=SUBSTITUTE(A4, "1", "2", 3)
Result:
Quarter 1, 2012
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