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How to Highlight Negative Numbers in Red in Microsoft Excel

Negative Numbers Highlighted

Negative Numbers Highlighted

Use Excel's Conditional Formatting Feature

Are you working with a large dataset in Microsoft Excel and need a quick way to identify negative numbers? With Excel's Conditional Formatting feature, you can easily highlight negative numbers in red, making them stand out for better visibility. Follow these simple steps to learn how:

1. Select Your Data:

Open your Excel worksheet and select the range of cells containing the numbers you want to highlight. This could be a column, row, or entire table.

Select Data

Select Data

2. Locate the Conditional Formatting Feature:

From the top menu, navigate to the "Format" option. Then, click on "Conditional Formatting." This will open the Manage Rules for Conditional Formatting window on your screen.

Conditional Formatting

Conditional Formatting

3. Add a New Rule:

In the Manage Rules pane, it shows the formatting rules for the current selection. Click on the "+" button on the bottom left corner. This will bring up the "New Formatting Rule" window, where you can define the criteria for highlighting.

Manage Rules > Add New Rule

Manage Rules > Add New Rule

4. Select Formatting Options:

In the "New Formatting Rule" window, choose the "Classic" style from the drop-down menu. Then, in the next row, first drop-down box select "Only format cells that contain"

Select Formatting Options

Select Formatting Options

Scroll to Continue

5. Define the Condition:

In the next row of the rule description, choose "Cell Value," followed by "less than," and enter "0" in the third box. This tells Excel to highlight any cells containing a value less than zero (i.e., negative numbers).

Define the Condition

Define the Condition

6. Choose Formatting Style:

Next, choose the formatting style for negative numbers. For example, you can select "Light Red fill with Dark red text" to highlight negative numbers with a red background and dark red text.

Choose Formatting Style

Choose Formatting Style

7. Apply the Formatting:

Once you've chosen your formatting options, click "OK" to apply the rule. Excel will immediately highlight all negative numbers in the selected range according to your specified formatting.

Apply the Formatting by clicking on 'Ok'

Apply the Formatting by clicking on 'Ok'

8. Voila!

And there you have it! With just a few simple steps, you can easily highlight negative numbers in red, making them stand out for better visibility in your Excel worksheet. Whether you're analyzing financial data, tracking expenses, or managing inventory, this handy feature can help you quickly identify and address negative values.

Negative numbers are highlighted

Negative numbers are highlighted

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

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