MS Excel Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the MS Excel lecture notes covering basic terminology, ribbon structure, cell referencing, built-in functions, and auditing tools.

MS Excel

A computer program used to create electronic spreadsheets, organize data, create charts, and perform calculations.

Workbook

A file in Microsoft Excel that contains an infinite number of worksheets.

Worksheet

A single page within an Excel workbook containing columns and rows.

Cell

The intersection where a column and a row meet (for example, cell D5 is located where column D and row 5 meet).

Ribbon Tabs

Seven tabs across the top of the Excel window that display sets of related commands.

Ribbon Groups

Sets of related commands displayed on ribbon tabs.

Ribbon Commands

A button, menu, or box on the ribbon where information is entered or selected.

Conditional Formatting

A feature located in the Styles group on the Home tab that applies formatting rules to differentiate selected cells based on specific conditions.

Fill Handle

A small square in the lower right-hand corner of the active cell that allows users to copy content or complete a series across rows or columns when clicked and dragged.

Relative Cell Reference

A cell reference (such as A1) based on the relative position of the cell; if the position of the cell containing the reference changes, the reference itself changes.

Absolute Cell Reference

A cell reference (such as $A$1) that always refers to a cell in a specific location, using $ for a constant row or column.

Mixed Reference

A cell reference that has either an absolute column and relative row (e.g., $A1) or an absolute row and relative column (e.g., A$1).

DATEDIF Function

An Excel function with syntax =DATEDIF(START_DATE,END_DATE,"INTERVAL") that calculates the difference between two dates in specified intervals such as days ("D"), months ("M"), or years ("Y").

SUMIF Function

An Excel function with syntax =SUMIF(RANGE,CRITERIA,SUM_RANGE) that adds the specified cells based on a given condition.

IF Function

An Excel function with syntax =IF(LOGICAL TEXT, VALUE IF TRUE, VALUE IF FALSE) that evaluates a logical expression to TRUE or FALSE and returns specified values accordingly.

COUNT Function

A function with syntax =COUNT(VALUE1,VALUE2,…) that counts only the cells that contain numbers.

COUNTA Function

A function with syntax =COUNTA(VALUE1,VALUE2,…) that counts cells that are not empty.

COUNTBLANK Function

A function with syntax =COUNTBLANK(RANGE) that counts cells that are blank.

COUNTIF Function

A function with syntax =COUNTIF(RANGE,CRITERIA) that counts the number of cells that meet a given condition.

LOWER Function

A text function with syntax =LOWER(TEXT) that converts text from capital to small letters.

UPPER Function

A text function with syntax =UPPER(TEXT) that converts text from small to capital letters.

PROPER Function

A text function with syntax =PROPER(TEXT) that capitalizes each word of a text string.

LEFT Function

A text function with syntax =LEFT(TEXT,NUM_CHARS) that returns a specified number of characters from the start of a text string.

RIGHT Function

A text function with syntax =RIGHT(TEXT,NUM_CHARS) that returns a specified number of characters from the end of a text string.

MID Function

A text function with syntax =MID(TEXT,STARTNUM,NUM_CHAR) that returns characters from the middle of a text string given a starting position and length.

NOW Function

An Excel function (=NOW()) that returns the current date and time.

TODAY Function

An Excel function (=TODAY()) that returns the current date only.

MOD Function

An Excel function (=MOD()) that returns the remainder after a number is divided by a divisor.

LEN Function

An Excel function (=LEN()) that returns the number of characters in a text string.

Trace Precedents

A function auditing tool that shows arrows indicating which cells affect the value of the currently selected cell.

Trace Dependents

A function auditing tool that shows arrows indicating which cells are affected by the value of the currently selected cell.