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How to use SUBSTITUE function in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

In this article, I introduce how to use the SUBSTITUE function in Excel.

SUBSTITUE function

SUBSTITUE function

=SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])

Case 1 Replace specific character with other in specific location

=SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])

If you want to replace a string with another in a specific location, please do as these:

Select a cell which you will place the result and type this formula=SUBSTITUTE(A1, "1", "2", 1), then the first occurrence of number 1 has been replace with 2.
replace a string with another in a specific location

If you want to replace the second occurrence of number 1 with 2, use this formula =SUBSTITUTE(A1, "1", "2", 2).
replace the second occurrence of a specific character

If you want to replace all number 1 with 2, use this =SUBSTITUTE(A1, "1", "2").
replace all specific character

Case 2 Replace multiple strings

If you want to replace multiple characters in a string at once time, you can use this formula

=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,"PR","Project "),"ML","Milestone "),"T","Task ").
Replace multiple strings

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