How can I use Excel to combine people’s first and last names if the data have been split into two columns, one for given name and one for surname?

Answer 1

If the last name is in column A

and the first name is in column B

The the formula for the full name in column C would be

=A1 & " " & B1

If you had "John" in A1 and "Doe" in B1 the C1 would have "John Doe" .

All cells would not contain the quotation marks.

If you wanted to be "Doe, John"

The the formula would be = B1 & ", " & A1.

Answer 2

In a separate column, enter the formula "=concatenate( ). Excel will prompt for the other 2 columns. You will have to edit the formula to add a space or, if last name comes first, a comma & space: simply insert +" "+ or +", "+ between the two cell references in the formula.