Favourite Excel Shortcuts: Ctrl ;, Ctrl D, Ctrl E (Nottingham)

If you are looking for Excel training in Nottingham, or you just want to spend less time clicking around a spreadsheet, here are my three favourite keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl ; for today's date, Ctrl D to fill down, and Ctrl E for Flash Fill. They are quick to learn and they save a surprising amount of faff.

Why learn Excel keyboard shortcuts?

Small time savings add up. Shave a few clicks off a task you do again and again, and across a working week it really does make a difference.

These are my favourites, not a definitive list. I am a self-confessed shortcut nerd (yes, I get a little thrill when one works first time...), so please forgive me.

At The Blue Star Academy, our Excel training is tailored to a team's real work. That means people learn the shortcuts they will actually use, not a long list they will forget by Friday.

Ctrl ; shortcut: how to insert today's date in Excel

Select a cell, press Ctrl and ; (semicolon) together, and Excel pops today's date into the cell. No typing, no checking the calendar.

It is handy for logs, trackers, sign-in sheets and records where you want a quick date stamp.

One thing to know: this enters a fixed date. It will not update tomorrow, unlike the TODAY function, which changes every time the file is opened. Which one you want depends on the job, so it is worth pausing for a second.

If you need the time as well, Ctrl Shift ; does that.

Ctrl D shortcut: how to fill down in Excel

Ctrl D copies the contents and formatting of the top cell down into the selected cells below it. Here is how:

1. Select the cell with the content in it, plus the empty cells below it.
2. Press Ctrl and D.

That is it. It is brilliant for copying a formula or value down a column without dragging the little corner handle and hoping you stop in the right place.

Ctrl R does the same job, but to the right.

Ctrl E shortcut: how to use Flash Fill in Excel

Flash Fill spots a pattern from an example you type and completes the rest of the column for you. It feels a bit like magic (it is not, obviously, I am talking nonsense).

A classic use is joining or splitting names. Say you have first names in one column and last names in another. In the column next to your data, type the first full name the way you want it to look. Start the second one, or just press Ctrl E, and Excel fills in the rest following your example.

A few things to remember:

• It needs an example typed in the column next to the data, so it has something to learn from.
• It is only available in newer versions of Excel.
• Always check the results. Flash Fill is guessing the pattern, and sometimes it guesses wrong.

Excel training in Nottingham for your team

The Blue Star Academy offers practical digital skills training, including Excel and Power BI, tailored to a team's real work. Shortcuts like these are just a taster of what practical training can cover.

If you are starting from the beginning, our Foundation Excel course is from £350 for a group, not per person. Prices are from and may change, so do check with me before you book.

No pressure at all, but have a think about your own spreadsheets. Which repetitive tasks could be quicker? Chances are there is a shortcut hiding somewhere.

Key takeaways

• Ctrl ; gives you a quick, fixed date. Ctrl D fills down. Ctrl E uses Flash Fill.
• Each one saves clicks, but do check the results, especially with Flash Fill and fixed dates.

Give them a go and see which one becomes your favourite. Mine changes depending on the day...

For more details about our Excel training, head over to www.thebluestaracademy.co.uk.