There is actually a really simple keyboard shortcut to get around it. Here's how...
For most of us, when we think of Microsoft Excel, our thoughts immediately turn to accounting. However, Microsoft Excel is a very flexible tool. It is not limited to number crunching! Landlords can use it as an inventory tracker, event planners can use it to create comprehensive guest lists and anyone can use it to compile and compare information on different products when looking to make a purchase.
Whatever you use Excel for, the data entered into each cell may not always be a simple, singular numerical or qualitative value. It could be a larger piece of text. When you type or paste a longer sample of text into a cell, it will automatically be displayed as one continuous piece of prose i.e. no paragraphs, no line breaks.
In some instances, you want the text to be formatted. Perhaps you want to create a bullet point list, or start a new paragraph when discussing a new point. An obvious example is when you type or paste in a physical address. You want the address to be displayed on different lines as it would appear on an envelope:
Name
Number | Street Name
Town or City
County
Country
Postcode
However, even if you copied the address in the correct format from another source, it will still show as one continuous piece of text within a Microsoft Excel cell.
Now, in most other applications – from Microsoft Word to Google Docs – in order to start a new line, you simply press enter. However, if you press enter in Microsoft Excel, your cursor won’t start a new line. It will have moved to the cell below. This can be mega frustrating!
There is actually a really simple keyboard shortcut to get around it. You just have to remember to use it!
How to start a new line within a cell in Microsoft Excel
To start a new line within a cell in Microsoft Excel, simply:
- Double-click the cell in question.
- Place your cursor at the point within the text (in the selected cell) where you want the new line to start and click.
- Press Alt + Enter (Please note: on macs the “Alt” key may appear as “option.”)
Voilà! Your cursor should now appear on a new line or a line break should have appeared within the text.