Can I extract certain words from inside a cell?

**kufta4** · 03-30-2011, 10:46 AM

I have a cell that contains a first name and last name a "-" and then a bit of information about that name. The information differs from cell to cell.

I just need the first and last name.

Is there a formula that will take out the first 2 words from each cell (which would be the first and last name)?

Thanks.

**brokenbiscuits** · 03-30-2011, 10:50 AM

=LEFT(A1,FIND("-",A1)-2)

(Assuming your name is in A1, and there is a space between the surname and the "-")

**kufta4** · 03-30-2011, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by brokenbiscuits

=LEFT(A1,FIND("-",A1)-2)

(Assuming your name is in A1, and there is a space between the surname and the "-")

I got an error. For example, this is in A1

Mike Alexander – Los Angeles Raiders, Buffalo Bills – wide receiver

I need Mike Alexander to be in B1. There are about 400 lines so I am hoping there is a formula instead of having to do it manually.

**brokenbiscuits** · 03-30-2011, 10:58 AM

Just a different kind of dash:

=LEFT(A1,FIND("–",A1)-2)

**kufta4** · 03-30-2011, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by brokenbiscuits

Just a different kind of dash:

=LEFT(A1,FIND("–",A1)-2)

Wow, that would have taken me a billion years to figure out it was a different king of dash on my own.

That worked and thank you very much. This site is awesome.