How to Fix Excel Formulas That Won’t Display Correctly 2023

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for creating spreadsheets and analyzing vast quantities of data. However, there are times when the program can be complicated to use, and when something goes wrong in your sheet, it can be hard to figure out where the problem is and how to resolve it.

Did you type in your data correctly? Did your formulas calculate properly? Did you move something you shouldn’t have? Here are some issues that might arise when your Excel spreadsheets aren’t displaying correctly and what you can do to fix them.

1. Improper or Incorrect Formula References

As you work in your spreadsheet, you may encounter a situation where your formulas aren’t returning calculation results and return the #REF! error instead.

The #REF! error occurs in one of two circumstances. The first is when you move or delete a cell, row, or column, and this creates a situation where the cell reference no longer exists in the way it did before. #REF! errors due to cell movements are widespread, especially when referring to single cells directly.

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If the error pops up right after you’ve moved or changed a cell, you can click Undo (or press Ctrl + Z) and Redo (or Ctrl + Y) to retrace your steps and figure out which change created the error. However, if the problem has persisted for a more extended period in your sheet, you’ll likely need to edit the formula and correct the cell references in the formula’s arguments.

The second most common instance is a #REF! error appearing when a lookup function (such as VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, or INDEX) requests cells from outside the defined range of cells being searched. For instance, if you asked your INDEX function to find something in the tenth column, but your lookup range only contains eight columns, this would return a #REF! error.

The key to preventing this form of the #REF! error is to make sure the data you’re looking for is within the range you’ve defined for the function. You can do this by either limiting the search value or extending the scope of the area being searched to include the value.

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2. Incorrect Function or Range Names

Another widespread problem you might encounter while working in Excel is typing in a formula or function and then receiving the #NAME? error.

The #NAME? error occurs when some part of the formula’s syntax is typed in incorrectly—preventing Excel from calculating the formula.

Most frequently, this problem is the result of entering a function’s name incorrectly (such as typing “XLOKUP” instead of “XLOOKUP,” for example). However, it can also happen with syntax separators (such as colons, commas, and quotation marks) and named ranges.

This is a relatively simple oversight, so it’s also easy to prevent; it’s worth double-checking to make sure that you’ve typed the formula correctly, including the correct spellings of syntax and properly placed punctuation.

If you find #NAME? errors are a frequent problem, you may want to consider using the Insert Function feature in the Formulas tab. There, you can use the Formula Wizard window for each function, which will guide you through the process of defining arguments and ranges without having to worry about the particulars of the function syntax.

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3. Styles and Formatting That Don’t Carry Over

When working with Excel spreadsheets, it’s easy to overlook the way your data is styled and whether it’s uniform. Do you have a nice-looking table of data in one sheet, but when you use an array formula or something similar, the output looks different?

When you’re using a formula or cell reference to transfer the contents of one cell to another, only the data moves with you, and not any stylistic formatting you may have applied to the original cells, such as fonts, colors, or backgrounds. You’ll have to reapply those formatting settings to the new cells where the output is located.

4. Array or Overflow Errors

Some formulas within Excel, particularly array formulas, require a specific amount of space in order to operate properly. If the formula does not have enough space to function correctly, or if that space is interrupted by other data or the end of the spreadsheet, a #SPILL! error occurs. This error indicates that there isn’t enough room for the formula to spill over onto adjacent cells within the spreadsheet.

If you encounter a #SPILL! error, the first thing you should try is to clear any visible obstructions that may be in the way of the formula. If that doesn’t solve the issue, or there isn’t a clearly visible cause for the error, there are multiple other problems you can quickly check for.

Merged cells, improper formula construction, or even a formula that returns too many values and exceeds the limits of your system’s memory can all lead to the #SPILL error in Excel.

5. Typos

Sometimes, your data being improperly displayed in Excel is the result of one of the simplest problems, an issue that is regularly overlooked: you’ve mistyped the formula. It can be a frustrating oversight, but it’s worth double-checking that your formula doesn’t have any typos.

Make sure you’ve entered all the required arguments. This is particularly important when you’re dealing with multiple criteria working together, like when using IFS statements.

If you’re constructing a complex statement that uses multiple functions or nested formulas, make sure that separators like parentheses, commas, and quotation marks have all been appropriately placed and closed so there are no hanging arguments or elements that are misplaced in the formula’s hierarchy.

To ensure you’re entering and using the formula correctly, you can read the function’s syntax in the formula bar, use the Formula Wizard, or check with Microsoft’s Excel function help guides.

Quickly Troubleshoot Your Excel Woes

Sometimes, little mistakes can cause a lot of frustration, especially when you’re trying to manage complex functions, formulas, and calculations in Excel. But learning simple troubleshooting steps and keeping them in mind will help you better respond when your sheets go awry and even prevent issues in the first place.

Knowing how to make quick fixes as needed can make a big difference in helping you stay productive and power through your work.