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MICROSOFT EXCEL NOTE AND WORKBOOK
If the date formatting isn't applied automatically, it means the spreadsheet did not understand the
data you entered. In the example below, we've typed March 15th. The spreadsheet did not
understand that we were referring to a date, so this cell is still using the general number format.
On the other hand, if we type March 15 (without the "th"), the spreadsheet will recognize it as a
date. Because it doesn't include a year, the spreadsheet will automatically add the current year so
the date will have all of the necessary information. We could also type the date several other ways,
such as 3/15, 3/15/2014, or March 15 2014, and the spreadsheet would still recognize it as a
date.
Try entering the dates below into a spreadsheet and see if the date format is applied automatically:
• 10/12
• October
• October 12
• October 2016
• 10/12/2016
• October 12, 2016
• 2016
• October 12th
If you want to add the current date to a cell, you can use the Ctrl+; shortcut, as shown in the video
below.
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