Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 25, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
When you begin typing a formula in a cell, Excel displays a helpful list of possible functions and named ranges that are based on what you are typing. The list of options gets shorter as you continue typing. You can, at any time, use the mouse to click on one of the options being offered to you.
If you don't want to take your hands off of the keyboard to use the mouse, there is an easy way to make a selection from the list of options offered. All you need to do is use the up and down arrow keys to highlight one of the options and then press the Tab key to select whichever one is highlighted. If there is only a single option being presented (which could easily be the case), you don't need to use the arrow keys; just press Tab.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10181) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
The number of formats used in a workbook can become a problem if you run up against the limit Microsoft hard-coded into ...
Discover MoreIt can be frustrating if you try to jump to the last cell in a worksheet, only to find out that you are taken to some ...
Discover MoreWhen you freeze panes in a worksheet, those panes should persist even though you save the workbook and reload it. There ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments