Copying formulas

In many spreadsheets, you may need to create similar formulas that use different data. For example, you may have a spreadsheet that needs to add the same number of cells in adjacent columns.

You could type nearly identical formulas in multiple cells, but that's tedious and error-prone. For a faster way, you can copy a formula and paste it in another cell; then Excel automatically changes the cell references.

To copy and paste a formula so that each formula changes cell references automatically, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell that contains the formula you want to copy.
2. Press Ctrl+C (or click the Copy icon under the Home tab).
   Excel displays a dotted line around your selected cell.
3. Select the cell (or cells) where you want to paste your formula. If you select multiple cells, Excel pastes a copy of your formula in each of those cells.
4. Press Ctrl+V (or click the Paste icon under the Home tab).
   Excel pastes your formula and automatically changes the cell references.
5. Press Esc or double-click away from the cell with the dotted line to make the dotted line go away.