Note: The other languages of the website are Google-translated. Back to English
Log in Register

How to extract text before / after the second space or comma in Excel? 

In Excel, the Text To Columns function may help you to extract each text from one cell into separate cells by space, comma or other delimiters, but, have you ever tried to extract the text before or after the second space or comma from a cell in Excel as following screenshot shown? This article, I will talk about some methods to deal with this task.

doc extract before second space 1

Extract text before the second space or comma with formula

Extract text after the second space or comma with formula

arrow blue right bubble Extract text before the second space or comma with formula

To get the text before the second space, please apply the following formula:

Enter this formula: =IF(ISERROR(FIND(" ",A2,FIND(" ",A2,1)+1)),A2,LEFT(A2,FIND(" ",A2,FIND(" ",A2,1)+1))) into a blank cell where you want to locate the result, C2, for example, and then drag the fill handle down to the cells that you want to contain this formula, and all the text before the second space has been extracted from each cell, see screenshot:

doc extract before second space 2

Note: If you want to extract the text before the second comma or other separators, please just replace the space in the formula with comma or other delimiters as you need. Such as: =IF(ISERROR(FIND(",",A2,FIND(",",A2,1)+1)),A2,LEFT(A2,FIND(",",A2,FIND(",",A2,1)+1))).

arrow blue right bubble Extract text after the second space or comma with formula

To return the text after the second space, the following formula can help you.

Please enter this formula: =MID(A2, FIND(" ", A2, FIND(" ", A2)+1)+1,256) into a blank cell to locate the result, and then drag the fill handle down to the cells to fill this formula, and all the text after the second space has been extracted at once, see screenshot:

doc extract before second space 3

Note: If you want to extract the text after the second comma or other separators, you just need to replace the space with comma or other delimiters in the formula as you need. Such as: =MID(A2, FIND(",", A2, FIND(",", A2)+1)+1,256).

The Best Office Productivity Tools

Kutools for Excel Solves Most of Your Problems, and Increases Your Productivity by 80%

  • Reuse: Quickly insert complex formulas, charts and anything that you have used before; Encrypt Cells with password; Create Mailing List and send emails...
  • Super Formula Bar (easily edit multiple lines of text and formula); Reading Layout (easily read and edit large numbers of cells); Paste to Filtered Range...
  • Merge Cells/Rows/Columns without losing Data; Split Cells Content; Combine Duplicate Rows/Columns... Prevent Duplicate Cells; Compare Ranges...
  • Select Duplicate or Unique Rows; Select Blank Rows (all cells are empty); Super Find and Fuzzy Find in Many Workbooks; Random Select...
  • Exact Copy Multiple Cells without changing formula reference; Auto Create References to Multiple Sheets; Insert Bullets, Check Boxes and more...
  • Extract Text, Add Text, Remove by Position, Remove Space; Create and Print Paging Subtotals; Convert Between Cells Content and Comments...
  • Super Filter (save and apply filter schemes to other sheets); Advanced Sort by month/week/day, frequency and more; Special Filter by bold, italic...
  • Combine Workbooks and WorkSheets; Merge Tables based on key columns; Split Data into Multiple Sheets; Batch Convert xls, xlsx and PDF...
  • More than 300 powerful features. Supports Office/Excel 2007-2019 and 365. Supports all languages. Easy deploying in your enterprise or organization. Full features 30-day free trial. 60-day money back guarantee.
kte tab 201905

Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!
officetab bottom
Comments (27)
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate!
Guni
Guni
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, this formula will be ideal for but instead of removing text after second space i want remove everything after 3rd i have been trying insert 3rd FIND(" ",A2 i understand that the formula itself is =FIND(" ",X13,1). can you please help me out. I am not good with nesting the formulas. Thank you very much.
Reply
Ritu Garg
Ritu Garg     Guni
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi I am looking for a solution to extract from the below Text , all the text after the second set of digits for example:


XY limited - UAN#24675 Materials per P/O#75176 Anticon & Sarking and i need only " Anticon & Sarking.
Reply
Rodney
Rodney
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
How would you change this to the 3rd comma? Instead of the 2nd?
Reply
skyyang
skyyang     Rodney
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello,Rodney,
To extract the text before the 3rd space, please apply this formula:
=IF(ISERROR(FIND(" ",A2,FIND(" ",A2,FIND(" ",A2,1)+1) +1)),A2,LEFT(A2,FIND(" ",A2,FIND(" ",A2,FIND(" ",A2,1)+1) + 1)));
To extract the text after the 3rd space, please use this formula:
=MID(A2, FIND(" ", A2,FIND(" ", A2, FIND(" ", A2)+1) +1)+1,30000)
Please try it, hope it can help you!
Thanks!
Reply
Report
Tushar
Tushar     skyyang
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thank you! This was tremendously helpful
Reply
Dave
Dave
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
=IF(ISERROR(FIND(",",A2,FIND(",",A2,1)+1)),A2,LEFT(A2,FIND(",",A2,FIND(",",A2,1)+1)))
That will return all text left of the second comma plus the second comma. This should be

=IF(ISERROR(FIND(",",A2,FIND(",",A2,1)+1)),A2,LEFT(A2,FIND(",",A2,FIND(",",A2,1)+1)-1))
to omit the second comma

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
2. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
3. Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
4. Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
5. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

Bad:
1. Saquon Barkley, RB,
2. Derrius Guice, RB,
3. Sony Michel, RB,
4. Ronald Jones II, RB,

Better:
1. Saquon Barkley, RB
2. Derrius Guice, RB
3. Sony Michel, RB
4. Ronald Jones II, RB
Reply
Ron
Ron     Dave
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
But this won't work if the text string does NOT always have a second comma...
Reply
Archi
Archi
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, is there a way, if I want to select text after 3rd comma from the end?
Reply
Report
skyyang
skyyang     Archi
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, Archi,
To extract all text after the 3rd comma, please apply this formula:
=RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND("@@@",SUBSTITUTE(A1,",","@@@",3)))

Please try it.
Reply
Report
Tiki
Tiki
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Is there a way to extract various pieces of this string? 123ABC.01.02.03.04 ---- for example, to pull the 123ABC, and then in the next column pull 123ABC.01, and then 123ABC.01.02, then 123ABC.01.02.03, and so on.
Reply
Alessandro
Alessandro
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
THANK YOU!!!
Reply
demo
demo
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
how do I do this from right to left. Basically, want to extract last two words.
Reply
skyyang
skyyang     demo
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, demo,
To extract and return the last two words from text strings, please apply the below formula:
=IF((LEN(A1)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")))<2,A1,RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND("/",SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","/",(LEN(A1)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ",""))-1)))))

Please try, hope it can help you!
Reply
Report
Gaby
Gaby
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
How can I extract Text 1 and Text 2 from a string like Text 1_Text 2_Text 3_Text 4
Reply
Bilal
Bilal
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
In my scenario There are three “-“ and sometimes one “-“
before second “-“ text should be enter
if in cell only one “-“ it should be blank

e.g As-01-14-32 answers like thisAs-01

e.g As-01 answer Blank cell

what will be farmula?
Reply
Report
skyyang
skyyang     Bilal
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, Bil,
To solve your problem, please apply the below formula:
=IFERROR(LEFT(A1,FIND("#",SUBSTITUTE(A1,"-","#",2))-1),"")
Please try it, thank you!
Reply
Report
Bilal
Bilal     skyyang
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
It’s working, thanks
Reply
Report
Bilal
Bilal     Bilal
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
One more thing
after third”-“all text should remain even 1 or 10 otherwise blank
e.g A-01-12-As answer As
e.g A-01-12-Asty answer Asty
e.g A-01 answer blank
Reply
Report
skyyang
skyyang     Bilal
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,
May be the below formula can solve your task, please try:
=IFERROR(TRIM(MID(A1,FIND("#",SUBSTITUTE(A1,"-","#",3))+1,255)),"")
Reply
Report
Bilal
Bilal     skyyang
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Fine thanks
Report
Nikhil Jayaswal
Nikhil Jayaswal     skyyang
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi
I need help if i want to extract anything after first comma and before last comma.
"Flat 135 Nevendon Road, Sally,Wickford, SS12 0NL"

Column A = Flat 135 Nevendon Road
Column B = Sally,Wickford
Columns C = SS12 0NL
Reply
skyyang
skyyang     Nikhil Jayaswal
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, Jayaswal,
To solve your porblem, please apply the following formulas:
First part--Cell B1: =LEFT(A1,FIND(",",A1,1)-1)
Second part--Cell C1: =MID(A1,FIND(",",A1)+1,LOOKUP(1,0/(MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A1))),1)=","),ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A1))))-FIND(",",A1)-1)
Third part--Cell D1: =MID(A1,FIND("=",SUBSTITUTE(A1,",","=",LEN(A1)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1,",",""))))+1,256)

Pleasr try, hope it can help you!
Reply
Report
Simon
Simon
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, I have a long string in a single cell and want to extract all the information after each Product ID. Product ID: 686, Product Qty: 1, Product SKU: RUB 100, Product Name: Emu Oil Rub 100g, Product Weight: 0.2000, Product Variation Details: |Product ID: 691, Product Qty: 1, Product SKU: MOIST 100, Product Name: Emu Oil Moisturiser 100g, Product Weight: 0.1900, Product Variation Details: , |Product ID: 705, Product Qty: 3, Product SKU: WASH 250, Product Name: Natural Hand & Body Wash with Emu Oil 250ml, Product Weight: 0.4000, Product Variation Details: I need the quantity in one cell and the product name in another cell for each of the products after Product ID. Can you help?
Reply
rangaaih
rangaaih
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I have the text like this
LAXMI RANI DELHI DELHI CG012054567IN CA
so, I want the text to be arranged in excel like this
LAXMI RANI(1st cell ) DELHI(2nd cell) DELHI (3rd cell) CG012054567IN (4th cell) CA(5th cell)
Reply
Report
skyyang
skyyang     rangaaih
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, rangaih,To deal with your problem, first, you can split your cell values based on space by using the Text to Columns feature, after spliting the text strings, you just need to combine the fisrt two cell values as you need.Please try, thank you!
Reply
Report
saran
saran
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello There

I have a scenario in 4 types as below in a excel chart

Type 1 : FX01865-CWB-22F
Type 2 : CD30250-AJX-2D-AB
Type 3 : DF10250-MUR-JH-B
Type 4 : YZ00250-MDS-4T-BHR

To all cases, I want to extract only the BOLD TEXT as an answer in the adjacent cells

Please help share formula

ThanksSaran

Reply
Op. 52
Op. 52
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Edit - I see this was already addressed by Dave - thank you sir! skyyang can you please edit the incorrect solution to "Extract Text Before The Second Delimiter" with the correct equation logic?
Reply
Report
There are no comments posted here yet
Leave your comments
Guest
Posting as Guest
Login
×
Rate this post:
Reset
0   Characters
Suggested Locations