Excel Return Month from Date Formula

Introduction to Excel Date Formulas

When working with dates in Excel, it’s often necessary to extract specific information, such as the month, from a given date. Excel provides several formulas to achieve this, including the use of the MONTH function, TEXT function, and DATE function. In this article, we’ll explore how to return the month from a date in Excel using these formulas.

Using the MONTH Function

The MONTH function in Excel is specifically designed to extract the month from a date. The syntax for this function is =MONTH(date), where date is the date from which you want to extract the month. Here’s how you can use it:

• Enter the date in a cell, for example, A1.
• In another cell, say B1, enter the formula =MONTH(A1).
• Press Enter, and you’ll see the month of the date in A1 as a numerical value (1 for January, 2 for February, etc.).

Using the TEXT Function

If you prefer the month to be displayed as text (e.g., “January” instead of “1”), you can use the TEXT function. The syntax for this is =TEXT(date, “mmm”) for the abbreviated month name or =TEXT(date, “mmmm”) for the full month name.

• Enter the date in a cell, for example, A2.
• In another cell, say B2, enter the formula =TEXT(A2, “mmmm”) for the full month name.
• Press Enter, and you’ll see the full month name of the date in A2.

Using the DATE Function

While the DATE function is primarily used to create a date from separate year, month, and day values, it can also be useful in conjunction with the MONTH function for more complex date manipulations.

Examples and Applications

Here are some examples of how these formulas can be applied in real scenarios:

• Monthly Reports: If you have a column of dates and you want to create a monthly report, you can use the MONTH function to categorize dates by month.
• Birthday Lists: If you have a list of birthdays and you want to wish people happy birthday by month, the TEXT function can help you create a list of birthdays by month name.

📝 Note: When using these formulas, ensure that the cell containing the date is actually recognized as a date by Excel, not just text that looks like a date.

Conclusion and Further Steps

Extracting the month from a date in Excel is straightforward and can be achieved with the MONTH or TEXT functions. Understanding these functions can significantly enhance your ability to manipulate and analyze date data in Excel. For more complex date manipulations, consider exploring other date-related functions that Excel has to offer.