Removing Cell Formatting

If you want to remove all the formatting from a cell, there are any number of techniques you can use. One way is to use the Format Painter. If there is an "unformatted" cell close to the one from which you want the formatting removed, just select the unformatted cell and click on the Format Painter tool. Then click on the cell you want to be unformatted, and that should do the trick.

Another method is to select the cell or cells, display the Home tab of the ribbon, and click Clear in the Editing group. You'll then see a submenu from which you can select Clear Formats.

You can also remove formatting by using the built-in styles in Excel. Select the cells and display the Home tab of the ribbon. In the Styles group click Normal. The formatting of the cell is returned to whatever is defined as "normal" for your worksheet.

If you prefer to use a single tool to remove formatting, you can customize Excel by adding a special tool to the Quick Access toolbar. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Office button and then click Excel Options. Excel displays the Excel Options dialog box.
2. At the left side of the dialog box click Customize. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Use the Choose Commands From drop-down list to choose All Commands.
4. In the list of commands, choose Clear Formats.
5. Click the Add button. The command is copied to the right side of the screen.
6. Click OK.

With the new tool in place, you can remove formatting by selecting the cells you want to affect and then clicking the tool.