To stop showing a dollar sign in Excel 2013, select the cells you want to format, right-click, and choose ‘Format Cells’. In the ‘Number’ tab, select ‘Number’ from the category list, set the decimal places, and uncheck the ‘Use 1000 Separator (,)’. Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.
After completing this action, the selected cells will no longer display the dollar sign, and the numbers will be shown in a plain number format without any currency symbol.
Introduction
Excel 2013 is a powerful tool used by individuals and businesses to organize, analyze, and present data. One common feature of Excel is the automatic formatting of numbers as currency, which includes the display of a dollar sign. While this can be useful in financial documents, there are instances where a user may want to display numbers without any currency symbol.
This could be the case when dealing with general numerical data, scientific figures, or when preparing data for non-financial reports. Knowing how to remove the dollar sign in Excel 2013 is a handy skill that can help users present their data more precisely. This article is relevant to anyone who uses Excel 2013 and wishes to customize how their data is displayed, whether they are students, professionals, or casual users of the software.
Step by Step Tutorial to Stop Showing a Dollar Sign in Excel 2013
The following steps will guide you through the process of removing the dollar sign from your Excel 2013 cells.
Step 1: Select the cells you want to format
Click and drag your mouse over the cells you wish to modify.
Selecting the appropriate cells is crucial because the formatting changes will only apply to the highlighted cells. Make sure to include all the cells where you want the dollar sign to be removed.
Step 2: Right-click and choose ‘Format Cells’
After selecting the cells, right-click on one of them and select ‘Format Cells’ from the context menu that appears.
The ‘Format Cells’ dialog box is where you can change various aspects of how your data is displayed, including number formatting, which is the focus of this process.
Step 3: Select ‘Number’ from the category list
In the ‘Number’ tab of the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box, click on ‘Number’ from the list of categories.
By selecting ‘Number’, you’re indicating to Excel that you want to format the selected cells as plain numbers, without any currency symbols.
Step 4: Set the decimal places
Choose the number of decimal places you want to be shown in your cells.
Setting the decimal places allows you to control how precise the numbers in the cells appear. This can be set to any value depending on the level of detail required for the data.
Step 5: Uncheck the ‘Use 1000 Separator (,)’
If you do not require a thousands separator in your numbers, uncheck the box next to ‘Use 1000 Separator (,)’.
The thousands separator is used for ease of reading larger numbers, but if your data doesn’t need this, unchecking it helps to simplify the number format even further.
Step 6: Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes
After setting your desired number format, click ‘OK’ to close the dialog and apply the changes to the selected cells.
Clicking ‘OK’ finalizes the format changes, and you should see the dollar signs removed from the selected cells immediately.
Pros
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Improved Data Clarity | Removing the dollar sign can result in clearer presentation of data, especially when dealing with non-financial figures. |
| Customized Formatting | It allows users to have more control over how their data is displayed, making Excel 2013 a more versatile tool. |
| Better Data Analysis | Without the distraction of currency symbols, it can be easier to perform mathematical operations and analyze numerical data. |
Cons
| Drawback | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Risk of Confusion | Without a currency symbol, there is a risk of confusing numerical data with financial data. |
| Additional Steps | It requires extra steps to customize the cell formatting, which may be inconvenient for some users. |
| Potential Inconsistency | If not applied uniformly, removing the dollar sign can lead to inconsistency in how data is presented across different parts of a document. |
Additional Information
While removing the dollar sign in Excel 2013 is a straightforward process, there are a few additional tips to keep in mind. First, if you’re working with a large dataset, you can use the ‘Format Painter’ tool to quickly apply the number formatting to multiple cells or ranges. Additionally, it’s important to remember that changing the number format does not alter the value of the data, just its presentation. So, if you perform any calculations, Excel will still treat the cells as numbers.
Also, consider using keyboard shortcuts to speed up the process. For accessing the ‘Format Cells’ dialog, you can press ‘Ctrl + 1’ instead of right-clicking. Lastly, if you want to revert to the currency format, you can easily do so by following the same steps and selecting ‘Currency’ from the ‘Number’ tab’s category list.
Summary
- Select the cells you want to format.
- Right-click and choose ‘Format Cells’.
- Select ‘Number’ from the category list.
- Set the decimal places.
- Uncheck the ‘Use 1000 Separator (,)’.
- Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing the dollar sign change the value of my data?
No, removing the dollar sign only changes how the data is displayed, not the actual value of the numbers in the cells.
Can I remove other currency symbols using this method?
Yes, the same method can be used to remove any currency symbol by choosing the appropriate format in the ‘Number’ tab.
What if I only want to remove the dollar sign from specific cells and not others?
You can select individual cells or ranges of cells and apply the formatting changes only to those specific areas.
Is there a way to apply this formatting to all future cells automatically?
For future cells, you can set the default number format for the entire worksheet or document by selecting ‘Number’ as the standard format.
If I share my Excel file, will others see the numbers without the dollar sign?
Yes, the number formatting you apply in Excel is saved with the document, so others will see the numbers without the dollar sign when you share the file.
Conclusion
Removing the dollar sign in Excel 2013 is a simple yet essential skill that enhances the versatility and clarity of your spreadsheets. Whether you’re working with large datasets or preparing reports, knowing how to customize your number formatting can make a significant difference in how your data is perceived.
Remember, it’s not just about removing a symbol; it’s about tailoring your data presentation to fit your specific needs. Excel 2013 offers a range of formatting options that, when used effectively, can elevate your data management game. So go ahead, give it a try, and see how it transforms your Excel experience.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.