Excel: Quickly Combine Two Text Columns

Key insights

• Combine two text columns
  Merge separate cells (for example first and last names) into one column with a chosen delimiter like a space or comma to keep data readable and ready for analysis.
• CONCAT / CONCATENATE
  Use =CONCAT(A2, " ", B2) to join two cells; CONCAT replaces the older CONCATENATE and handles ranges more cleanly.
• Ampersand (&)
  Type =A2 & " " & B2 for a quick, simple join without extra functions; many users prefer it for speed and clarity.
• TEXTJOIN
  Use =TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A2:B2) to combine ranges with one delimiter and automatically ignore empty cells; it works well with dynamic arrays for spill results.
• Flash Fill and Power Query
  Use Flash Fill for fast, pattern-based merges without formulas; use Power Query for large or repeatable transforms and advanced data shaping.
• Best practices
  Avoid Excel’s Merge & Center for data merging because it drops values; pick delimiters, keep originals until you confirm results, and use formulas or tools to preserve all data.

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