Excel: Error When Using +, -, @, or = to Start Text in a Cell

 Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
Article ID: Q43995
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.2, 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel version 2.2 and later, a text value cannot start with any of the following symbols: 

   Name of Sign       Symbol
   -------------      ------

   Equal sign           =
   Plus sign            +
   Minus sign           -
   At sign              @
If these symbols are used to start a cell, the error message "Error in Formula" will result if the entered information is not a valid formula. This behavior is by program design to provide compatibility with other spreadsheet applications, such as Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel for Windows, which use these characters to enter formulas.

To enter a text value beginning with one of the above symbols, use one of the following methods:

Method 1

Precede the text value with a hard space (OPTION+SPACEBAR).

Method 2

Enter the text value preceded by an equal sign (=) and enclose it in quotation marks, as shown in the following example: 

   ="+/- 2 Weeks"

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior is different from Microsoft Excel versions 1.5 and earlier, which allows formulas to begin with a "+", "-", or an "@", and treat any cell beginning with one of those symbols as text.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional words: 2.2 2.20 3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00

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Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
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