Microsoft Excel 
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APPLYING GENERAL FORMATTING 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Number Format command in the Number 
group on the HOME tab contains a drop arrow 
that provides a gallery of the more commonly 
used number formats. You can apply these  
formats easily and quickly to a selected cell or 
range of cells in the worksheet. 
Try This Yourself: 
Open 
File Before starting this exercise 
you MUST open the file E1315 
Number Formatting_1.xlsx… 
 
Click in cell D4, hold down 
, then click in cell D13 to 
select the range containing 
dates 
 
Click on the HOME tab, then 
click on the drop arrow for 
Number Format in the 
Number group to see a gallery 
of number formats 
 
Click on Long Date to make 
the short dates in the selected 
range appear as long dates 
 
Click in cell E4, hold down 
, then click in cell E13 to 
select the range containing 
units of measure 
 
Click on the drop arrow for 
Number Format, then select 
Number to display these as 
numbers with 2 decimal places 
 
Repeat the above steps to 
change G4:G13 to Currency 
 
Repeat the above steps and 
change the following ranges 
as shown: 
H4:H14 Percentage 
I4:I4 Accounting 
G15:I15 Currency 
 
2 
For Your Reference… 
To apply general formatting to numbers: 
1. Select the range to format 
2. Click on the HOME tab, then click on the 
drop arrow for Number Format in the 
Number group  
3. Click on the desired number format 
7 
Handy to Know… 
 Excel may appear to round values up or 
down as necessary – however, the value in 
the cell does not change. Sometimes you’ll 
see minor rounding discrepancies. 
 The Currency format shows the currency 
format and symbol appropriate to the country 
your computer is configured for.