Split messy data into neat columns with Text to Columns

If you’ve ever been given a spreadsheet where names, dates, or codes are all squashed into one column, you’ll know how awkward it is to work with. Sorting, filtering, and analysing the data becomes almost impossible.

Excel has a built-in tool that fixes this in seconds: Text to Columns.

For example, you might have data like this in one column:
John Smith – Sales – London

To split this into separate columns:

1. Select the column with the messy data
2. Go to Data → Text to Columns
3. Choose Delimited and click Next
4. Tick the character that separates your data (for example Comma, Space, or Dash)
5. Click Finish

Excel will instantly split the information into clean, separate columns — perfect for sorting, filtering, and reporting.

This is ideal for:

• Separating first names and surnames
• Splitting postcodes or reference numbers
• Breaking up imported data from other systems

It’s a simple tool, but it can turn a messy spreadsheet into something usable in just a few clicks.