How to Extract Text Before Nth Specific Character in Excel?
Tags: excelpreface, excelbasics, exceltutorials, extracttextbeforenth
Published: 2021-01-26 08:43:53

---
title: How to Extract Text Before Nth Specific Character in Excel?
published: true
date: 2021-01-25 12:14:31 UTC
tags: ExcelPreface,ExcelBasics,ExcelTutorials,Extracttextbeforenth
canonical_url: https://geekexcel.com/extract-text-between-nth-specific-character-excel/
---

So far we have learned how to **[extract text before the first space or comma character](https://geekexcel.com/extract-text-before-first-comma-or-space-in-excel-office-365/)** in Excel. Likewise, here we will discuss the simple steps to **extract the text before the N<sup>th</sup> specific character in Excel**. Let’s get them below!! Get an official version of ** MS Excel**  from the following link: [https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel)
## Formulas and Syntax Explanations:

- You can use the below formula to get the text before the N<sup>th</sup> special character.

**=[LEFT](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-left-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/)(B1,[FIND](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-find-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/)(“#”,[SUBSTITUTE](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-substitute-function-in-microsoft-excel-2013/)(B1,” “,”#”,Nth))-1)**

### Function Explanations:

- **[LEFT Function](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-left-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/) –** It extracts the first character (starting from the left side) or characters from the given string based on the number you specified.
- **[FIND Function](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-find-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/) –** This function is used to find out the one text string inside the other.
- **[SUBSTITUTE Function](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-substitute-function-in-microsoft-excel-2013/) –** Using this function you can easily replace existing text with new text in a text string when you want to replace text based on its content, not position.

## Practical Example:

Refer to the below example image.

- Assume that you have input data as per the below example image.

![Input data](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Input-data-1.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-21419">Input data</figcaption>

- Here you need to extract the text which is before the second special character.
- So, apply the above-given formula to the formula bar section.

![Enter the formula](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Enter-the-formula-23.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-21420">Enter the formula</figcaption>

- Now it will display the result as per the below image.

![Result](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Result-44.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-21421">Result</figcaption>

## Wind-Up:

Here, we have explained the way to  **extract text before the N<sup>th</sup> special character in Excel Office 365** with formula syntax, explanation, and clear-cut examples. Please share your **feedback** in the below **comment** box. We will assist you. To learn more, check out **[Geek Excel](https://geekexcel.com/)**

### Read Also:

- **[How to Extract Text Between Commas in Excel Office 365?](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-extract-text-between-commas-in-excel-office-365/)**
- **[Join the Text From Two Or More Cells Into One Cell in Excel!!](https://geekexcel.com/join-text-from-two-or-more-cells-into-one-cell-excel/)**