PROPER

Formulas / PROPER
Capitalize the first letter of each word in a text string.
=PROPER(text)
  • text - required argument that is text enclosed in quotation marks, a formula that returns text, or a reference to a cell that contains the text to be capitalized.

Examples

  • =PROPER("apple")

    The PROPER function can be used to capitalize the first letter of each word in a string. For example, this returns "Apples".

  • =PROPER("APPLE")

    The PROPER function is not case sensitive. For example, this returns "Apple", not "Apples".

  • =PROPER("XYY-020-kwp")

    The PROPER function can also be used to capitalize strings with special characters. For example, this returns "Xyy-020-Kwp".

  • =PROPER(A1)

    The PROPER function can also be used with cell references. For example, this returns "44373" because PROPER takes a numeric value and number formatting is removed.

Summary

The PROPER function is used to capitalize the first letter of a string, as well as any other letters that follow a character other than a letter. All other letters are converted to lowercase.

  • The PROPER function capitalizes each word in a text string, with the argument being text, which can be either a text value or a cell reference.
  • When using PROPER, it first lowercases uppercase letters and then caps each word in the text string.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PROPER function?
The PROPER function capitalizes the first letter of a string and any other letters that follow a character other than a letter. It converts all other letters to lowercase letters.
What is the text argument for the PROPER function?
The text argument is required for the PROPER function. It is text that is enclosed in quotation marks, a formula that returns text, or a cell reference to the text to partially capitalize.
How do I use the PROPER function?
To use the PROPER function, you need to enter the following into a cell:
  • =PROPER(text)
What are some examples of using the PROPER function?
Here are some examples of using the PROPER function:
  • =PROPER("this is a title") will return "This Is A Title"
  • =PROPER(A2) will return the text in cell A2 with the first letter capitalized and all other letters lowercase

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