Use AutoCorrect To Expand Your Shorthands

Excel 95 version introduced the AutoCorrect feature. Though this is mostly used to correct the commonly misspelled words, quite a few smart users started using this feature for another use, to expand the shorthand form of sentences. For example: You can type “P Ltd” in a cell and make Excel change it to “Private Limited”. You can set up this using Excel’s AutoCorrect feature.

This feature is on in Excel by default. You can toggle this on and off by following the sequence below.

In Excel 2010 or later

File Tab > Options > Proofing tab > AutoCorrect options > AutoCorrect tab > clear / check the box Replace text as you type

Excel 2007

Click the Microsoft office button > Excel Options > Proofing tab > AutoCorrect options > AutoCorrect tab > clear / check the box Replace text as you type

In Excel 2003 or earlier

Tools menu > AutoCorrect options > AutoCorrect tab > clear / check the box Replace text as you type

Under the check box, you will notice two fields viz. Replace: & With:. This is where you define what to replace and with what. As an example, type P Ltd in Replace: field and type Private Limited in With: field. Click on Add.

Now onwards, anywhere you type P Ltd in any cell, Excel will automatically change it to Private Limited. You can use this feature to expand any shorthand you want.

You can edit or delete any of the replace and with pairs available in Excel AutoCorrect by selecting that pair and clicking on Delete button.

Explore other options available in this dialogue box.