Try the example, then check the result.
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The video includes one marked screenshot from the English app, with illustrative diagrams for the other steps. English captions. Product menus may differ in your account.
Split comma-separated names into adjacent columns in Excel for the web with TEXTSPLIT. Follow a fictional three-row example and handle blank output cells safely.
Use the fictional practice data and answer check. Work in a copy.
Before you start
The companion video uses a selected labelled capture from an English Excel for the web workbook with fictional data, alongside illustrative diagrams. Menu wording may vary with app version or account. Keep the source file available for comparison.
1. Read the fictional export
Paste the three names from the practice CSV into A2:A4 under the Full name header. The rows are Rivera, Maya, Brooks, Eli, and Chen, Nora. Put Family name in B1 and Given name in C1. Make sure B2:C4 is blank before entering a formula, since TEXTSPLIT returns multiple adjacent cells.
Check: A2:A4 hold names; B:C are empty; Headers in row 1.
2. Type the column delimiter
In B2, enter =TEXTSPLIT(A2,", "). The quoted delimiter contains a comma followed by one space. The second argument is the column delimiter, so the result from A2 spills across B2:C2.
Check: Enter in B2; Delimiter is comma + space; Result spills into C2.
3. Check the first split
After pressing Enter, B2 should show Rivera and C2 should show Maya. Compare both pieces to the original in A2. If you see #SPILL!, clear the intended output cells; do not delete the original source value. If you get one unsplit value, inspect the separator in A2 because a different punctuation mark will not match the delimiter.
Check: B2: Rivera; C2: Maya; Inspect #SPILL! if shown.
4. Fill and check every row
Copy the formula in B2 down to B3:B4, leaving C3:C4 free. Confirm Brooks pairs with Eli and Chen pairs with Nora. Do not sort just one output column after splitting: that could separate family and given names from the original row. Keep column A as a reference until you have checked all converted records.
Check: B3:C3 → Brooks | Eli; B4:C4 → Chen | Nora; Preserve original column A.
5. Avoid the argument-position trap
TEXTSPLIT accepts both column and row delimiters. If the comma-and-space string is supplied as the third argument instead of the second, results may flow down rows rather than across columns. For this contact task, the separator belongs in the second argument. Also note that a comma-only separator may leave a leading space before Maya, Eli, or Nora.
Check: Second argument → columns; Third argument → rows; Match comma and space.
Expected result
=TEXTSPLIT(A2,", ") returns Rivera in B2 and Maya in C2. Fill down to get Brooks/Eli and Chen/Nora. The delimiter includes a comma and space.
Common mistakes
- Leave the two output columns empty so the dynamic array can spill; occupied cells cause #SPILL!.
- The delimiter must match the data. A comma alone leaves leading spaces in given names.
- TEXTSPLIT's second argument is a column delimiter. Putting it in the row-delimiter position splits vertically instead.
Official references and evidence
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/functions/textsplit-function
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/split-a-cell-in-excel
References checked 15 October 2026. The sample and answer check are original fictional material. A marked video capture shows the English Excel for the web TEXTSPLIT formula and the three fictional name pairs split into columns. Other panels are illustrative diagrams; the capture shows the result, not every intermediate keystroke or an alternate delimiter.
Practice downloads.
The exercise files contain invented information. Save a local copy before editing.