Excel Myths: 9 Beliefs to Stop Now

Key insights

• Excel myths often lead to overengineering; choose the simplest solution that reliably solves your task.
  Stop following one-size-fits-all rules and test what works for your data and workflow.
• Formulas do not need to be clever or ultra-short to be good; prioritize clarity and maintainability.
  Clear formulas reduce errors and make files easier for others to update.
• VLOOKUP and other classic lookup functions are not automatically slow for typical datasets; they work well on small to medium tables.
  For very large data, consider alternatives, but don’t abandon tried methods without testing.
• Keep data in tabular data layouts and avoid merged cells; merged cells hinder selection, sorting, copying, and formulas.
  Unnecessary whole-row formatting can bloat file size and slow processing.
• Avoid legacy .xls files for modern work—they limit rows and columns and can cause compatibility issues.
  External workbook references are supported, so linking across files is possible when needed.
• Helper columns are practical, not amateurish, and you don’t always need VBA to automate tasks.
  Use in-app AI like Copilot to speed repetitive work, but keep control and understanding of your data.

Keywords

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