To center across selection in Excel, use the Alignment settings inside the Format Cells dialog. The feature distributes the content across selected cells without merging them.
Steps to Center Across Selection
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Select the cells you want the text to appear centered across.
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Right-click the selection and choose Format Cells.
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Windows: Right-click → Format Cells.
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Mac: Control-click → Format Cells.
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Open the Alignment tab in the Format Cells dialog.
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Open the Horizontal drop-down list under Text Alignment.
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Choose Center Across Selection.
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Click OK to apply the alignment.
Key Attributes of Center Across Selection
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The command keeps each cell separate.
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The command centers text visually across the selected range.
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The command creates no merged cells.
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The command allows editing, sorting, filtering, and navigation without restrictions caused by merged cells.
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The command supports formatting changes without interfering with column operations.
Why Center Across Selection Is Used
Center Across Selection gives a centered title or label without structural limitations. Merged cells block sorting, cause reference errors, and create navigation conflicts. Center Across Selection avoids these issues while preserving layout alignment.
Differences Between Windows and Mac
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Windows shows the Center Across Selection option directly in the Horizontal Alignment menu.
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Mac places the alignment control in the same location, but sometimes shows an expanded dialog depending on the Excel version.
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Keyboard shortcuts differ because Mac uses Command-based combinations while Windows uses Ctrl-based combinations.
Best Practices for Layout
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Center Across Selection is effective when creating headers that span multiple columns.
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Center Across Selection improves worksheet usability in large spreadsheets that depend on sorting or structured references.
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Center Across Selection maintains a consistent design when building templates that require flexible column adjustments.
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