How to use the UPPER function
Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on February 24, 2022
Converts a value to upper case letters.
Formula in cell C3:
=UPPER(B3)
Table of Contents
-
- UPPER Function Syntax
- UPPER Function Arguments
- UPPER Function not working
- How to change lower letter to upper letter for the position of a given character
- How to change lower letter to upper letter for a given character
- How to change all lower letters to upper letters for a given character
- Get Excel *.xlsx file
1. UPPER Function Syntax
UPPER(text)
2. UPPER Function Arguments
| text | Value to convert. Required. |
3. UPPER Function not working
- Check your spelling.
- Check the number of arguments you use, the UPPER function accepts only one argument.
4. How to change lower letter to upper letter for the position of a given character
The image above demonstrates a formula that replaces the third letter with an upper case letter.
Formula in cell C3:
=REPLACE(B3, 3, 1, UPPER(MID(B3, 3, 1)))
4.1 Explaining formula
Step 1 - Extract letter based on position
The MID function returns a substring from a string based on the starting position and the number of characters you want to extract.
MID(text, start_num, num_chars)
MID(B3, 3, 1)
becomes
MID("oranges", 3, 1)
and returns "a".
Step 2 - Convert to upper letter
The UPPER function converts a string to capital letters.
UPPER(MID(B3, 3, 1))
becomes
UPPER("a")
and returns "A".
Step 3 - Replace character based on position to an upper letter
The REPLACE function substitutes a string based on character position and length.
REPLACE(old_text, start_num, num_chars, new_text)
REPLACE(B3, 3, 1, UPPER(MID(B3, 3, 1)))
becomes
REPLACE(B3, 3, 1, "A")
becomes
REPLACE("oranges", 3, 1, "A")
and returns "orAnges".
5. How to change a given lower letter to an upper letter
The formula in cell C3 demonstrated in the image above converts the second lower case "p" from the right with an upper case "P".
Formula in cell C3:
=SUBSTITUTE(B3, "p", "P", 2)
5.1 Explaining formula
The SUBSTITUTE function substitutes a string with another string.
SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])
SUBSTITUTE(B3, "p", "P", 2)
The first argument is a cell reference to cell B3, the second argument is the string to be replaced.
The third argument is what will be there after the substitution and the fourth argument is a number representing the instance.
6. How to change all lower letters to upper letters for a given character
The picture above shows a formula in cell C3 that converts all lower case "p" to an upper case "P" in cell B3.
Formula in cell C3:
=SUBSTITUTE(B3, "p", "P")
The SUBSTITUTE function substitutes a string with another string.
SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])
If the instance_num argument is omitted all instances are replaced.
'UPPER' function examples
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Functions in this article
Functions in 'Text' category
The UPPER function function is one of many functions in the 'Text' category.
Returns an array of text values from a given cell range.
Converts full-width (double-byte) characters to half-width (single-byte) characters.
Converts a number to the corresponding ANSI character determined by your computers character set.
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Returns the position of a specific string in another string, reading left to right. Note, the FIND function is case-sensitive.
Extracts a specific number of characters always starting from the left.
Returns the number of characters in a cell value.
Converts a value to lower case letters.
Returns a substring from a string based on the starting position and the number of characters you want to extract.
Substitutes a part of a text string based on the number of characters and length with a text string you provide.
Repeats a specific text a chosen number of times.
Extracts a specific number of characters always starting from the right.
Returns the number of the character at which a specific character or text string is found reading left to right (not case-sensitive)
Replaces a specific text string in a value. Case sensitive.
Returns a text value if the argument is a text value.
Converts a value to text in a specific number format.
Extracts a string after a specific substring in a given value.
Extracts a string before a specific substring from a given value.
Combines text strings from multiple cell ranges.
Splits a string into an array based on delimiting values.
Deletes all blanks or space characters except single blanks between words in a cell value.
Calculates a character based on a Unicode number.
Returns a Unicode number based on a character.
Converts a value to upper case letters.
Converts a text string that represents a number to a number.
Returns a value in text form. Text values are unmodified and non-text values are converted to text.
Excel function categories
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You will find functions in this category that calculates random values, round numerical values, create sequential numbers, trigonometry, and more.
Calculate distributions, binomial distributions, exponential distribution, probabilities, variance, covariance, confidence interval, frequency, geometric mean, standard deviation, average, median, and other statistical metrics.
Functions that let you manipulate text values, substitute strings, find string in value, extract a substring in a string, convert characters to ANSI code among other functions.
Get data from the internet, extract data from an XML string and more.
Excel categories
Latest updated articles.
More than 300 Excel functions with detailed information including syntax, arguments, return values, and examples for most of the functions used in Excel formulas.
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Excel Tables simplifies your work with data, adding or removing data, filtering, totals, sorting, enhance readability using cell formatting, cell references, formulas, and more.
Allows you to filter data based on selected value , a given text, or other criteria. It also lets you filter existing data or move filtered values to a new location.
Lets you control what a user can type into a cell. It allows you to specifiy conditions and show a custom message if entered data is not valid.
Lets the user work more efficiently by showing a list that the user can select a value from. This lets you control what is shown in the list and is faster than typing into a cell.
Lets you name one or more cells, this makes it easier to find cells using the Name box, read and understand formulas containing names instead of cell references.
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Lets you quickly summarize vast amounts of data in a very user-friendly way. This powerful Excel feature lets you then analyze, organize and categorize important data efficiently.
VBA stands for Visual Basic for Applications and is a computer programming language developed by Microsoft, it allows you to automate time-consuming tasks and create custom functions.
A program or subroutine built in VBA that anyone can create. Use the macro-recorder to quickly create your own VBA macros.
UDF stands for User Defined Functions and is custom built functions anyone can create.
A list of all published articles.
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