How to Rotate Text in Excel 2019: A Step-by-Step Guide

Rotating text in Excel 2019 is a handy skill to master, especially when you’re working with tables or charts and need to make your data presentation more visually appealing. In short, to rotate text in Excel, you’ll need to select the cell or cells containing the text you want to rotate, go to the Home tab, find the Orientation button in the Alignment group, and choose your preferred rotation option. It’s that simple, and now let’s dig into the step-by-step tutorial.

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Rotate Text in Excel 2019

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re aiming for. Rotating text can help you fit longer headings into narrower columns, or simply add a creative touch to your spreadsheet. Plus, it will make you look like an Excel wizard!

Step 1: Select the Cells

Click and drag to select the cell or cells with the text you want to rotate.

When selecting cells, you can click on a single cell, or click and drag to select multiple cells. If you need to select non-adjacent cells, hold down the Ctrl key as you click each cell.

Step 2: Open the Format Cells Dialog Box

Right-click on the selected cells and choose ‘Format Cells’ from the context menu.

Alternatively, you can access the Format Cells dialog by clicking on the small diagonal arrow in the bottom right corner of the Alignment group on the Home tab.

Step 3: Navigate to the Alignment Tab

In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the Alignment tab to access the rotation options.

The Alignment tab is where you can also adjust other text properties, such as horizontal and vertical alignment, text control, and text direction.

Step 4: Adjust the Orientation

Under the Orientation section, use the degrees input box or the orientation graphic to set your desired text rotation angle.

You can rotate text up to 90 degrees in either direction, or you can choose to rotate the text to appear vertical, which is often used for column headers.

Step 5: Click OK

After setting your desired rotation angle, click OK to apply the changes.

Once you click OK, the text within the selected cells will be rotated as per your settings. If it doesn’t look quite right, you can always go back and adjust the angle as needed.

After you’ve completed these steps, your text will be rotated to your liking. This can make your spreadsheet look neater and more professional, and can often make it easier to read, especially if you’re dealing with narrow columns.

Tips for Rotating Text in Excel 2019

• Keep in mind that rotating text might affect the row height or column width, adjust these accordingly to make sure all the text is visible.
• If you’re applying rotation to a heading, consider applying the same rotation to all headings in your table for consistency.
• Rotating text to a slight angle, like 45 degrees, can be a good compromise between horizontal and vertical text, making it easier to read.
• Use the ‘Text Direction’ option in the Alignment tab if you want your text to read from top to bottom or bottom to top.
• Remember that you can also rotate text in charts, which can be particularly useful for axis labels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rotate text in merged cells?

Yes, you can rotate text in merged cells just like you would in regular cells. Just select the merged cell and follow the same steps.

What’s the difference between rotating and changing text direction?

Rotating text changes the angle of the text, while changing the text direction flips the text to read from top to bottom or vice versa, without changing the angle.

Can I rotate text in Excel Online?

Yes, you can rotate text in Excel Online. The steps are similar to those in Excel 2019.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to rotate text in Excel?

There is no direct keyboard shortcut, but you can access the Format Cells dialog using the Alt key shortcuts: press Alt, H, and then E.

Can I rotate text to any degree I want?

Yes, you can type in any angle between -90 and 90 degrees in the Orientation section of the Format Cells dialog.

Summary

1. Select the cell(s) with the text you want to rotate.
2. Right-click and choose ‘Format Cells’ or use the Alignment group options.
3. Click on the Alignment tab.
4. Use the Orientation section to set the text rotation angle.
5. Click OK to apply the rotation.

Conclusion

Rotating text in Excel 2019 is a breeze once you get the hang of it. Whether you’re sprucing up headers, fitting long text into small spaces, or just adding a bit of flair to your spreadsheets, knowing how to manipulate text orientation is a valuable skill. Play around with angles, try different orientations, and watch as your spreadsheets transform from plain grids of data into organized, readable, and aesthetically pleasing documents. As always, don’t be afraid to experiment – that’s how you’ll become an Excel pro. So go ahead, give it a whirl, and rotate that text!