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How to extract the last word from a cell in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Text manipulationExcel & Google Sheets
=TRIM(RIGHT(SUBSTITUTE(A2," ",REPT(" ",LEN(A2))),LEN(A2)))✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Full Name | Last Word |
| John Doe | |
| Jane Smith | |
| Alice Johnson |
=TRIM(RIGHT(SUBSTITUTE(A2," ",REPT(" ",LEN(A2))),LEN(A2)))→Doe
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Step by step
- 1Identify the cell containing the text from which you want to extract the last word.
- 2In an adjacent cell, enter the formula provided for Excel or Google Sheets.
- 3Press Enter to see the last word extracted from the original cell.
Tips
- Ensure there are no trailing spaces in your original text to avoid errors.
- This formula assumes words are separated by single spaces. Adjustments may be needed for multiple spaces or different delimiters.
- Check your locale settings if you encounter unexpected results with functions like SUBSTITUTE.
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Frequently asked
What if my text has multiple spaces between words?
The formula assumes single spaces. You may need to adjust it to handle multiple spaces.
Can this formula be used with other delimiters besides spaces?
Yes, replace the space character in the formula with your desired delimiter.
Does this work with special characters or punctuation?
Yes, as long as they are part of the last word or not used as delimiters.
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