Working with data often requires dealing with duplicates, which can be redundant or error-induced. Google Sheets offers several efficient ways to manage duplicates. Here, we explore the three best methods to help you highlight and remove duplicate data.

1. Conditional Formatting

This is a quick way to visually identify duplicates in your sheet. Conditional formatting can change the appearance of cells based on certain conditions, such as having duplicate values.

To use Conditional Formatting:

– Select the range where you suspect there are duplicates.

– Go to ‘Format’ in the top menu.

– Choose ‘Conditional formatting’.

– Under the ‘Format cells if’ dropdown, select ‘Custom formula is’.

– Enter the formula: =countif(A:A,A1)>1 (Assuming column A contains potential duplicates).

– Choose a formatting style to highlight the duplicates, such as a distinct background color.

– Click ‘Done’. Now, all the duplicates in your selection will be highlighted.

2. Using the Unique Function

For situations where you want to extract a list of unique values from a range, the UNIQUE function can be very useful.

To use the Unique Function:

– Select the cell where you wish your non-duplicate list to begin.

– Enter =UNIQUE(range) into the cell, replacing ‘range’ with your data range.

– Press ‘Enter’, and Google Sheets will output a list without any duplicates.

3. Removing Duplicates Tool

Google Sheets includes a dedicated tool for removing duplicate rows from your sheet or range. It works well for data that has multiple columns and you’re looking to remove rows that are exact matches across all selected columns.

To use Removing Duplicates Tool:

– Select the range that includes your data (or select a single cell to check the entire sheet).

– Click ‘Data’ in the top menu and then go to ‘Data cleanup’.

– Choose ‘Remove duplicates’.

– A dialogue box will appear; confirm your range or adjust if necessary.

– Check or uncheck columns that should be considered for determining duplicates.

– Click ‘Remove duplicates’. You will get a summary of removed content, leaving behind only one instance of each previously duplicated row.

By mastering these three methods—conditional formatting, UNIQUE function, and Remove duplicates tool—you can effectively manage duplications in Google Sheets, ensuring cleaner data and more accurate analysis.