How to Match Names with Different Spelling in Excel – 8 Methods

Overview

Overview of Match Names where spelling differ in Excel


The sample dataset contains Name and Account Number of the same person in different banks.

Sample dataset of matching names where spelling differ


Method 1 – Matching Names with different Spelling in the Same Row

  • Select the cell to place the result. Here, H5.
  • Enter formula.

=B5<>E5

Using not equal sign to differ spelling in names

  • Press ENTER.
  • If the value of different columns but the same row differs, it returns True. Otherwise, False 
  • In the Match Differ column, it will show TRUE as B5 and E5 were selected.

Using not equal sign to differ spelling names

  • Drag the Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest of the cells in the column.

Using not equal sign to differ spelling names


Method 2 – Using the IF Formula to Match Spelling Differences

  • Select a cell to place your resultant value. Here, H5.
  • Enter the formula.
=IF(B5<>E5,"Differ","")

Using IF to match name spelling differ

  • Press ENTER.
  • It will return Differ when the compared names’ spelling is different. If spelling matches it will keep the cell empty.

Using IF to match name spelling differ

  • Drag the Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest of the cells in the column.

Using IF to match name spelling differ


Method 3 – Using the IF Formula for Both Matches and Differences

  • Select H5 cell to enter the formula.

=IF(B5<>E5,"Differ","Match")

Using IF Formula both Matches and Differences

  • Press ENTER.
  • It will return either Differ or Match.

Using IF Formula both Matches and Differences

  • Drag the Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest of the cells in the column.

Using IF Formula both Matches and Differences

 


Method 4 – Using the COUNTIF to Match Differences

  • Select a cell to enter the formula. Here, H5.
=IF(COUNTIF($E:$E, $B5)=0, "No match in Wells Fargo", "")
    • The name in B5 is compared with the names in Column E .

Using COUNTIF to Match Differences

  • Press ENTER.
  • It will show No match in Wells Fargo if the spelling differs from Bank of America.

Using COUNTIF to Match Differences

  • Drag the Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest of the cells in the column.

Using COUNTIF to Match Differences


Method 5 – Matching Case Sensitive Differences

  • Select a cell to place different names. Here, H5.
  • Enter the Formula.
=IF(EXACT(B5, E5), "Match", "Differ")

Matching case-sensitive Differences

  • Press, ENTER.
  • You will see the different names and also the matches.

Matching case-sensitive Differences

  • Drag the Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest of the cells in the column.

Matching case-sensitive Differences


Method 6 – Highlighting Differences

  • Select the cell you want to highlight for spelling differences. Here, H5.
  • Go to the Home tab >>  Conditional Formatting >> Highlight Cells Rule >> More Rules.

Highlight Differences

  • In the dialog box, select Use a formula to determine which cell to format.

Highlight Differences

  • Enter the formula =B5<>E5.
  • Set the Format.
  • Click OK.

Highlight Differences

  • The chosen Format for different names will be displayed.

Highlight Differences

  • Drag the Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest of the cells in the column.

Highlight Differences


Method 7 – Matching Differences in Two Columns

  • Select the cells you want to Highlight.
  • In the Home tab >> Go to Conditional Formatting >> select Manage Rules.

Matching Differences of Two Columns

  • In the dialog box, select New Rule .
  • Click OK.

Matching Differences of Two Columns

  • In the new dialog box, select Use a formula to determine which cell to format.
  • Enter the formula
    =COUNTIF($E$4:$E$11, $B4)>0
  • Set the Format.
  • Click OK.

Matching Differences of Two Columns

  • In the new dialog box, select the formula and click OK.

Highlight Differ Name of Two Column

This is the output.

Highlight Differ Name of Two Column

To apply it to Column E:

  • In the Home tab >> Go to Conditional Formatting >> select Manage Rules.

Highlight differ name of two column

  • In the dialog box, select New Rule and click OK.

Matching Differences of Two Columns

In the new dialog box, select Use a formula to determine which cell to format.

  • Enter the formula
=COUNTIF($B$4:$B$11, $E4)>0
  • Set the Format.
  • Click OK.

Highlight Differ Name of Two Column

  • In the new dialog box, select the formula and click OK.

a dialog box to highlight differ two column

This is the output.

Highlight differ names of two columns


Method 8 – Using Go To Special

  • In the Home tab >> Go to Find & Select >> select Go To Special.

Selecting Go To Special to find Spelling Differ Names

In the dialog box, select Row Differences.

  • Click OK.

Selecting Options in Go To Special

This is the output.

Highlighting Spelling Differ Names


Practice Section

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Practice Sheet


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Shamima Sultana
Shamima Sultana

Shamima Sultana, BSc, Computer Science and Engineering, East West University, Bangladesh, has been working with the ExcelDemy project for 2 years. She has written over 75+ articles and reviewed 1000+ articles for ExcelDemy. She has also led several teams with Excel VBA and Content Development works. Currently, she is working as the Project Manager and oversees the day-to-day work, leads the services team, allocates resources to the right area, etc. Her work and learning interests vary from Microsoft... Read Full Bio

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