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Data Cleaning with Excel

Through this guide you will learn tricks and tips to better clean and organize tabular data using Microsoft Excel.

Simple Sorting in Excel

In smaller datasets, simple sorts will quickly show data entry errors in data points consisting of only a few words. Simple sorts will also bring entries beginning with unusual characters to the top.

Screen Clipping showing the result of a simple alphabetical sort of the spreadsheet on the Other Diagnosis column.

 

Simple Sort Instructions:

  • Select All by clicking the triangle in the upper left corner of the screen
  • Choose the Data Tab in the Ribbon, then Sort
  • In the dialog box that pops up, click "My data has headers"
  • From the "Sort By" drop-down menu, choose the column on which you'd like to sort the spreadsheet
  • Click OK