How Do I Add Extra Lines to an Excel Spreadsheet?

Table of Contents

To insert new rows or columns in an Excel worksheet, follow these steps:

Inserting Rows
- Select the heading of the row above where you want to insert additional rows.
- Select the same number of rows as you want to insert.
- Hold down CONTROL, click the selected rows, and click Insert on the pop-up menu.
- You can insert rows above a selected row.
Inserting Columns
- Select the heading of the column to the right where you want additional columns.
- Select the same number of columns as you want to insert.
- Hold down CONTROL, click the selected columns, and click INSERT on the pop-up menu.
Inserting Cells
- Similarly, insert blank cells above the active cell on a worksheet.
- Cell references adjust automatically.
- When inserting blank cells, choose whether to shift other cells down or right.

If you need to sum a column or row of numbers, let Excel do the math for you:

Click AutoSum on the Home tab next to the numbers you want to sum, press Enter, and you’re done.
Excel automatically enters a formula to sum the numbers.
To sum a column, select the cell below the last number.
To sum a row, select the cell immediately to the right.
AutoSum is found in two locations: HOME > AutoSum, and FORMULAS > AutoSum.
Once you create a formula, copy it to other cells.
Use AutoSum on more than one cell at once.
Create a simple formula to sum numbers.

In a worksheet, tap the first empty cell after a range of cells with numbers, or tap and drag to select the desired range.
Tap AutoSum, then SUM, and tap the check mark.

To add gridlines to your Excel charts, follow these instructions:

Click anywhere on the chart where you want to add gridlines.
On the Design tab, in the Chart Layouts group, click Add Chart Element, point to Gridlines, and select the gridline option you want.
To improve chart data readability, display horizontal and vertical chart gridlines.
Gridlines extend from horizontal and vertical axes across the chart’s plot area.
Depth gridlines can be displayed in 3-D charts.
Gridlines align with major and minor tick marks on the axes.

You cannot display gridlines for chart types without axes, such as pie and doughnut charts.
Options depend on the chart type.
To display chart gridlines, click anywhere on the chart.
On the LAYOUT tab, in the AXES group, click GRIDLINES.
Choose PRIMARY HORIZONTAL GRIDLINES or PRIMARY VERTICAL GRIDLINES and select an option.
For 3-D charts, click DEPTH GRIDLINES and choose the option you want.
To hide gridlines, click NONE after selecting PRIMARY HORIZONTAL GRIDLINES, PRIMARY VERTICAL GRIDLINES, or DEPTH GRIDLINES.