Removing All 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 on the toolbar. Then click on the cell you want to be unformatted, and that should do the trick.

You can also use the menu system in Excel to remove formatting. Simply select the cell (or cells) and select Clear from the Edit menu. This displays a submenu from which you can select Formats.

Another method is to use the built-in styles in Excel. Select the cells, then press Alt+' (the apostrophe) to display the Style dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.) In the Style Name drop-down list, select Normal, then click on OK. The formatting of the cell is returned to whatever is defined as "normal" for your worksheet.

If you prefer to use a toolbar approach, you can customize your toolbar to add the proper tool. Follow these steps:

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu. This displays the Customize dialog box.
2. Make sure the Toolbars tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. In the list of toolbars, make sure the toolbars you want to edit are selected.
4. Click on the Commands tab. (Click here to see a related figure.)
5. In the list of Categories, select Edit.
6. In the list of Commands, select Clear Formatting.
7. Use the mouse to drag the command from the Commands list to its new location on the toolbar. When you release the mouse button, the Clear Formatting icon appears.
8. Click on Close to dismiss the Customize dialog box.

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