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How to find the longest or shortest text string in a column?

Author: Xiaoyang Last Modified: 2024-07-30

In a worksheet, if you want to know which cell contains the longest or shortest characters and then extract it from a column, how could you do? Normally, you may count the number of the text strings in the list one by one and compare them to get the result. But here, I can talk about an easy formula to help you find the longest or shortest text as you need.

Find the longest or shortest text strings from a column with Array formula

Find the longest or shortest text strings from a column with Array formula

To retrieve the longest text string from a list of data, the following Array formula can help you.

1. Next to your list of data, in a blank cell, please enter this formula:

=INDEX(A2:A11,MATCH(MAX(LEN(A2:A11)),LEN(A2:A11),0)), see screenshot:

a screenshot of finding the longest text string with formula

Tip: In the above formula, A2:A11 indicates the data range that you want to use, you can change it as your need.

2. Then press Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys together, and the longest text string has been extracted. See screenshot:

a screenshot of finding the longest text string

Note: If you need to get the shortest text string, please apply this Array formula:

=INDEX(A2:A11,MATCH(MIN(LEN(A2:A11)),LEN(A2:A11),0)), and remember to press Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys at the same time.

a screenshot of finding the shortest text string with formula
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a screenshot of finding the longest text string

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