Remove dashes
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Phone |
| 2 | 555-123-4567 |
Formula: C1: =SUBSTITUTE(A2,"-","")
Result: 5551234567
An empty string as new_text deletes the old text.
Google Sheets function
SUBSTITUTE in Google Sheets
SUBSTITUTE with worked examples you can test in the live grid. The argument details are in the Excel guide.
In Google Sheets
The arguments and common errors are covered in the SUBSTITUTE Excel guide; check the function help in Google Sheets for its own argument list.
Worked examples in Google Sheets
Replace one occurrence only
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | List |
| 2 | a,b,c,d |
Formula: C1: =SUBSTITUTE(A2,",",";",2)
Result: a,b;c,d
The fourth argument 2 limits the change to the second comma.
Count a character
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tags |
| 2 | red,green,blue |
Formula: C1: =LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,",",""))
Result: 2
Removing every comma shortens the text by the number of commas.
Try it
A tiny spreadsheet with example data. Edit the formula or any number and see the result.
Formula in D2: =SUBSTITUTE(A5,"-","/")
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Text | Other | Result | |
| 2 | Alice Johnson | alice johnson | SKU/2026/0415 | |
| 3 | [email protected] | [email protected] | ||
| 4 | extra spaces | |||
| 5 | SKU-2026-0415 | |||
| 6 | iced coffee, tea, sugar | |||
| 7 | Order 417 shipped |
Result in D2: SKU/2026/0415
Google Sheets is used here only as a descriptive product name. FormulaCamp is not affiliated with Google.