Despite its many advantages and benefits, Excel doesn’t always behave as users would want or expect. This is especially true when working with fractions. By default, Excel converts fractions into dates. So, if you type in something like “2/3” and hit the “Enter” key, Excel will change that to “02-Mar” instead of leaving it as it was.
Fortunately, there are a couple of easy solutions to this problem. This guide shows you how to stop Excel from changing fractions to dates.
How to Stop Excel From Changing Fractions to Dates
Method 1. Add a Space, Zero, or Apostrophe
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to stop Excel changing fractions into dates, without having to delve into the settings or menus, this is it. All you have to do is either press the spacebar before typing in your fraction, or enter a “0” or apostrophe before it.
Step 1. Click on the cell you want to enter your fraction in. Press the spacebar, or the “0” key, or the apostrophe key.
Step 2. Type in your fraction, then hit the “Enter” key. You should see the fraction appear as you typed it, without any changes.
Note: Of the three options listed here, it’s usually best to type the “0” before your fraction, rather than the other two choices. This is because typing a “0” will also make Excel automatically change your cell to the “Fraction” format, which can be handy if you plan to use it in any formulas or calculations. If you use the space or apostrophe instead, the cell will remain in the “General” format.
Method 2. Change the Cell Format to the Fraction Type
Another solution when Excel changes fractions to dates is to change the format of your cells. Excel allows you to select a range of cell formats, including “General,” “Number,” and “Percentage.” There’s also a “Fraction” format, designed specifically for working with fractions.
Step 1. Click on the cell you want to change the format for, or click and drag if you want to apply the “Fraction” format to a whole group of cells. Note that you can hold down the “Ctrl” key to select multiple cells in different parts of the spreadsheet.
Step 2. On the “Home” tab, look for and click on the drop-down menu in the “Number” section. By default, it will be set to “General,” but you can click on “Fraction” to change all of your selected cells to the “Fraction” format. Once you’ve done that, you can type fractions into those cells, without Excel changing them.
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Last updated on 06 June, 2025
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