Bhubon Costa
Excel has a multitude of symbols to choose from. When combined with a number, special characters or symbols have different meanings. In most cases, you won’t be able to put them in a single cell with a number. To represent the symbols with numbers, you’ll need to add certain formulas and functions. In this tutorial, we will show you how to add a symbol before a number in Excel.
Download Practice Workbook
Download this practice workbook to exercise while you are reading this article.
3 Handy Approaches to Add Symbol Before a Number in Excel
We’ve represented some symbols and numbers in the image below. We’d want to combine them into one cell to make it more comprehensible and significant. To accomplish this, we’ll use the Symbols group, the CHAR function, and finally, Format Cells. To add a symbol before a number, use the methods listed below.
1. Use Symbols Group to Add Symbol Before a Number
First of all. We will use the Symbols group from Excel’s Insert tab to add symbols.
Step 1: Open the Symbols Option
- Firstly, select a cell (B5).
- Click on the Insert tab.
- Then From the Symbols group, select the Symbols option.
Step 2: Insert Symbols
- After opening the Symbol box, click to select the preferred symbol.
- Then, click on Insert to add the symbol to the Excel cell.
- Finally, click on Close to go back to the spreadsheet.
- As a result, the plus (+) sign will be inserted in cell B5.
- Choose the preferred symbols to insert in the column.
Step 3: Apply Formula to Add Symbol Before a Number
- To add the two cells values separated by a space, type the following formula.
=B5&" "&C5
- Then, press Enter to see the first added value of the symbol and number.
- Finally, drag down the AutoFill Tool to auto-fill all the cells.
Read More: How to Type Math Symbols in Excel (3 Easy Methods)
Similar Readings
- Put 0 in Excel in Front of Numbers (5 Handy Methods)
- How to Insert Rupee Symbol in Excel (7 Quick Methods)
- Insert Tick Mark in Excel (7 Useful Ways)
- How to Type Delta Symbol in Excel (8 Effective Ways)
- Type Diameter Symbol in Excel (4 Quick Methods)
2. Apply CHAR Function to Add Symbol Before a Number
You can add symbols or characters with the help of the CHAR function. Every symbol has a dedicated ASCII Code under the CHAR function.
Step 1: List the ASCII Code for the symbols
- The corresponding ASCII codes of the symbols we used previously are listed in the graphic below.
Step 2: Insert ASCII Codes with the CHAR Function
- Enter ASCII Code (43) of plus (+) sign with the CHAR function.
=CHAR(B5)
- Then, press Enter to see the result. You will see that the plus (+) sign will appear in cell C5.
- Thus, auto-fill the column by using the AutoFill Tool.
Step 3: Join Two Cells
- Write down the formula to connect the two cells having a space between them.
=C5&" "&D5
- Finally, press Enter to see the result.
- To get the results for all the cells, simply drag down the AutoFill Tool.
 Notes:  If you don’t know the ASCII code, you can find the ASCII Code number in the Symbol box. Make sure that, the number system is in decimal.
Read More: Excel Formula Symbols Cheat Sheet (13 Cool Tips)
3. Format Cells to Add Symbol
Excel has some built-in symbols for numbers, currency, and plus (+) /minus (–). We can add them before a number by using the Format Cells box.
Step 1: List the Symbols
- Firstly, make a list of symbols you want to add before the numbers.
- From the Formula Bar, copy the symbol.
- Then, press the Esc button.
Step 2: Apply Format Cells
- Select the cell (C5) where the number is located.
- After that, press Ctrl + 1  to open the Format cells dialog box.
- From the Number tab, select the Custom option.
- In the Type box, select a number format (#,##0) and paste the symbol (+) before the format.
- You can see a preview in the Sample.
- Finally, click OK to see the first result that the plus (+) sign is added before the number (100200).
- As a result, repeat the procedure for the remaining operations and check the outcomes as shown below.
Read More: How to Insert Dollar Sign in Excel Formula (3 Handy Methods)
Conclusion
I hope this article has given you a tutorial about how to add a symbol before a number in Excel. All of these procedures should be learned and applied to your dataset. Take a look at the practice workbook and put these skills to the test. We’re motivated to keep making tutorials like this because of your valuable support.
Please contact us if you have any questions. Also, feel free to leave comments in the section below.
We, the Exceldemy Team, are always responsive to your queries.
Stay with us and keep learning.
Related Articles
- How to Insert Degree Symbol in Excel (6 Suitable Methods)
- Insert Symbol in Excel Header (4 Ideal Methods)
- How to Insert Symbol in Excel Footer (3 Effective Ways)
- Put Equal Sign in Excel without Formula (4 Easy Ways)
- How to Insert Greater Than or Equal to Symbol in Excel (5 Quick Methods)
- Insert square root symbol in Excel (7 easy ways)
- How to Insert Less Than or Equal to Symbol in Excel (5 Quick Methods)
” title=”