Start here · Essential guide
Spreadsheet Skills for Beginners
A plain-language start with spreadsheets: how rows, columns and cells work, how to enter data cleanly and build your first simple calculations with confidence.
Tools and Data
Spreadsheets and Data Skills
Everyday spreadsheet and data know-how.
Averages Medians and What They Can Hide
See how the mean, median and mode react to one unusual value, using a small made-up data set you can check by hand, and learn which summary suits which question.
Building a Simple Readable Dashboard
Learn how to pick a few key figures, arrange them clearly and avoid clutter so a one-page spreadsheet dashboard answers real questions at a glance.
Choosing the Right Chart for Your Data
Match bar, line, pie and scatter charts to the question you are asking, and learn simple rules that keep a chart honest, readable and easy to interpret.
Cleaning Messy Data Before You Analyze It
Fix duplicates, inconsistent spellings, blank cells and stray spaces before analysis, with a safe step-by-step routine that keeps your original data intact.
Common Spreadsheet Errors and How to Catch Them
Learn the typical spreadsheet mistakes, from wrong ranges and hidden rows to text-formatted numbers and rounding, plus simple checks that help you catch them early.
Pivot Tables Explained in Plain Language
Understand what a pivot table does, how grouping and summarizing work and how to read one, using a tiny hypothetical sales list you can check by hand.
Setting Sharing Permissions on Spreadsheets
Understand viewer, commenter and editor roles, and learn practical habits for sharing spreadsheets without accidentally exposing sensitive or private information.
Sorting and Filtering Data to Find Answers
Learn how sorting and filtering help you isolate the rows you need, why to sort whole tables, and how to protect your original data while you explore.
Spreadsheet Formulas Explained Simply
Understand how sums, averages, counts and simple conditions work in a spreadsheet, with small hypothetical examples you can check by hand and common pitfalls.
Tracking a Personal Budget in a Spreadsheet
Set up categories, a simple transaction list and monthly totals in a spreadsheet as a record-keeping exercise, with a hand-checked hypothetical example.
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