Google Sheets · Verified tutorial
Verified by JosephineAbout 60 seconds
Extract text before a character in Google Sheets
In B2 enter =LEFT(A2,FIND("-",A2)-1) and fill it down through B4.
Verified by JosephineAbout 60 secondsQuick answer
In B2 enter =LEFT(A2,FIND("-",A2)-1) and fill it down through B4.
Step-by-step
1
Open the practice sheetUse the example data shown below so the result is easy to check.
2
Extract text before a characterIn B2 enter =LEFT(A2,FIND("-",A2)-1) and fill it down through B4.
3
Check the resultCompare the finished sheet with the expected result and correct the target range if needed.
Shortcut or faster method
Use the menu path shown in the video and keep the target range selected until the change is applied.
Expected result
B2:B4 contains the text before each hyphen.
Common mistake
Starting with the wrong cell or range selected.
Troubleshooting
Re-select B2 and repeat the final action. B2:B4 contains the text before each hyphen.
Example spreadsheet data
This is the clean fixture used for the verified run.
| Code | Before hyphen |
| North-104 | |
| West-208 | |
| East-315 |
Video transcript
- Open the prepared Practice spreadsheet.
- Open the practice sheet. Use the example data shown below so the result is easy to check.
- Extract text before a character. In B2 enter =LEFT(A2,FIND("-",A2)-1) and fill it down through B4.
- Check the result. Compare the finished sheet with the expected result and correct the target range if needed.
- B2:B4 contains the text before each hyphen.