Microsoft Excel basics: rows, columns, and simple sums
Beginner
15 min
Understand cells, enter data, and add numbers automatically with a simple formula.
Cells, rows, and columns
A spreadsheet is a grid. Columns go across (A, B, C) and rows go down (1, 2, 3). A single box is called a cell, for example A1.
Enter data
Click a cell and type a number or word, then press Enter to move down.
Add numbers with SUM
Type =SUM(A1:A5) in an empty cell to add the values from A1 to A5, then press Enter.