SUBSTITUTE function in Excel

Syntax

=SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])

Example

=SUBSTITUTE("555-123-4567","-","") removes every dash.

From the lesson SUBSTITUTE Function.

Common mistakes

• Using REPLACE when you know the text but not the position.
• Forgetting the quotes around old/new text.

Related text functions

• LENReturns the number of characters.
• LEFTReturns characters from the start of the text.
• RIGHTReturns characters from the end of the text.
• MIDReturns characters from the middle of the text.
• FINDCase-sensitive position of text within text.
• SEARCHCase-insensitive position of text; supports wildcards.
• CONCATJoins text from cells and ranges.
• CONCATENATEJoins text items (legacy).