Text
CONCATENATE in Excel:syntax, examples and errors
CONCATENATE joins the text of several cells or values into one. In Spanish Excel it is called CONCATENAR. Syntax: =CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], ...).
Syntax
=CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], ...)In English Excel, arguments are separated with a comma (,). In Spain and much of Europe and Latin America, Excel uses a semicolon (;).
Arguments
| Argument | What it is |
|---|---|
text1 | Required. The first cell or text. Text typed by hand goes in quotes. Example: A2. |
text2, ... | Optional. More cells or texts, up to 255. A space is also text: " ". Example: " ", B2. |
How do you use CONCATENATE? A step-by-step example
CONCATENATE joins texts into one cell. In this example you have a list of new hires with the first and last name in separate columns, and you want the full name in one.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First | Last | City | Code |
| 2 | Lucy | Grant | Austin | 101 |
| 3 | Mark | Rivera | Denver | 102 |
| 4 | Valerie | Cruz | 103 | |
| 5 | Daniel | Ford | Boston | 104 |
=CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2) returns Lucy Grant.
A2is the first text: the first name." "is a space in quotes. Without it, you get LucyGrant.B2is the last name.
You can add as much fixed text as you like: =CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2," lives in ",C2) returns Lucy Grant lives in Austin.
How do you concatenate with the & symbol?
The & joins two texts, the same as CONCATENATE, and it is shorter to type. =A2&" "&B2 returns the same Lucy Grant.
| You want | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First and last name, plus the city in parentheses | =A2&" "&B2&" ("&C2&")" | Lucy Grant (Austin) |
| An employee code | ="EMP-"&D2 | EMP-101 |
| Last name in capitals, comma, first name | =UPPER(B2)&", "&A2 | GRANT, Lucy |
| The initials | =LEFT(A2,1)&LEFT(B2,1) | LG |
| A code with part of another cell | =CONCATENATE("EMP-",D3,"-",LEFT(C3,3)) | EMP-102-Den |
When the formula is long, the & usually reads better because there is no parenthesis to close at the end.
CONCATENATE, CONCAT, TEXTJOIN or &?
All four join text. The difference is in ranges, separators and the Excel version.
| CONCATENATE | & | CONCAT | TEXTJOIN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versions | All | All | Excel 2019 and later, Microsoft 365 | Excel 2019 and later, Microsoft 365 |
| Accepts a range (A2:C2) | No, cell by cell | No | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic separator | No | No | No | Yes, the first argument |
| Empty cells | Leaves the separator | Leaves the separator | No separator | Skips them with TRUE |
| Example | =CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2) | =A2&" "&B2 | =CONCAT(A2:C2) | =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:C2) |
| Result | Lucy Grant | Lucy Grant | LucyGrantAustin | Lucy, Grant, Austin |
Which one to pick:
- For two or three cells, the
&. - For a whole row with a separator, TEXTJOIN: with Valerie's city empty,
=TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A4:C4)returns Valerie, Cruz, with no comma at the end. - If the file will open in an Excel older than 2019, CONCATENATE or
&.
Microsoft keeps CONCATENATE for compatibility and recommends CONCAT in the newer versions. Formulas with CONCATENATE keep working.
How does CONCATENATE show up in an Excel test?
In a job interview you get first and last names in columns and are asked for "one column with the full name" or "a code with the initials and the number". What they look for: that the space is there and that the formula can be dragged down the whole list.
In a skills test:
A2 holds Lucy and B2 holds Grant. What does
=CONCATENATE(A2,B2)return? a) Lucy Grant · b) LucyGrant · c) Lucy,Grant · d) #VALUE!
Answer: b. CONCATENATE does not add spaces: you have to write them as one more text, " ".
Practice CONCATENATE
The English exercises are on the way. Until then, copy the names table into a blank sheet and build the full name, then the initials. If you then want to look up a person by that code, continue with VLOOKUP. To flag rows with an empty city, use IF with an empty-text check, and count the filled ones with COUNTA.
Available in: CONCATENATE and &, in all versions of Excel. CONCAT and TEXTJOIN, in Excel 2019 and later, Microsoft 365 and Excel for the web. Sources: Microsoft: CONCATENATE, CONCAT and TEXTJOIN. Results calculated with Formulo's engine.
Common mistakes
- The texts come out stuck together
- CONCATENATE does not add spaces. =CONCATENATE(A2,B2) returns LucyGrant. Add the space as one more text: =CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2) returns Lucy Grant.
- The date comes out as a number
- When you join a date, Excel uses its serial number. With November 5, 2026 in E2, ="Started: "&E2 returns Started: 46331. Turn the date into text before joining it: ="Started: "&TEXT(E2,"mm/dd/yyyy").
- The number loses its format
- A price you see as $4.50 joins as 4.5. ="Price: "&F2 returns Price: 4.5. Use TEXT with the format you want to see.
- Loose parentheses or commas are left over
- If a cell is empty, the separator stays. With the city empty, =A4&" "&B4&" ("&C4&")" returns Valerie Cruz (). TEXTJOIN with TRUE skips empty cells.
- #NAME?
- Fixed text goes in quotes: =CONCATENATE(A2,dash,B2) gives #NAME? because Excel looks for something called dash. Write it in quotes: "-". It also appears if you use CONCAT or TEXTJOIN in an Excel older than 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is CONCATENATE called in Spanish?
CONCATENAR. In a Spanish Excel: =CONCATENAR(A2;" ";B2). Newer versions also have CONCAT and TEXTJOIN (UNIRCADENAS).
What is the difference between CONCATENATE and CONCAT?
CONCAT accepts ranges: =CONCAT(A2:C2) joins the three cells. CONCATENATE needs each cell on its own. CONCAT is in Excel 2019 and later and in Microsoft 365.
How do I join cells with a comma between each?
With TEXTJOIN: =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:C2) returns Lucy, Grant, Austin. The TRUE makes it skip empty cells.
Is merging cells the same as concatenating?
No. Merge and Center joins the cells visually and keeps only the text of the first. Concatenating joins the texts in one cell and deletes nothing.
How do I split text that is joined?
With Data > Text to Columns, or with LEFT, RIGHT and MID if the cut is always in the same position.
How do I add a line break when concatenating?
Join CHAR(10) between the texts and turn on Wrap Text in the cell: =A2&CHAR(10)&B2.
Related functions
Practice in a real spreadsheet
Exercises with real data and instant checking. The first three are free.