The SUM Function Syntax and Arguments
A function’s syntax refers to the layout of the function and includes the function’s name, brackets, and arguments. The syntax for the SUM function is: Number1 (required) is the first value to be summed. This argument can contain the data you want to sum up, or it can be a cell reference to the location of the data in the worksheet. Number2, Number3, … Number255 (optional) is the additional values to be summed up to a maximum of 255.
Sum Data in Excel Using Shortcut Keys
The key combination to enter the SUM function is: Here’s how to input the SUM function using the shortcut keys: Speed up data entry by inputting individual cells and cell ranges correctly:
Using point-and-click with the mouse to enter individual cell references, Using click-and-drag with the mouse to highlight a contiguous range of cells, or Typing the numbers or cell references manually.
Separate individual cell references entered by typing or pointing with commas.For a range of cell references entered by typing, you can separate the starting and ending point cell references with a colon.
Sum Data in Excel Using AutoSUM
Use the AutoSUM shortcut located on the Home tab of the ribbon to complete the formula without having to type. The “Auto” part of the name AutoSUM refers to the method automatically selecting what it believes is the range of cells to be summed by the function. The selected range has shading and an animated border known as “marching ants.” The AutoSUM function should be input at the bottom of a column of data or the right end of a row of data. If you put the AutoSUM function in another spot on the spreadsheet, the range of cells selected as the function’s argument may be incorrect. To change the selected range, use the mouse pointer to highlight the correct range before pressing the Enter key to complete the function To use AutoSUM:
Using the SUM Function Dialog Box
You can enter most functions in Excel using a dialog box, which allows you to input the arguments for the function on separate lines. The dialog box also takes care of the function’s syntax, such as the opening and closing parentheses and the commas used to separate individual arguments. Although individual numbers can be entered directly into the dialog box as arguments, it is usually best to enter the data into worksheet cells and enter the cell references as arguments for the function. To enter the SUM function using the dialog box in Excel 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, or Excel for Mac: To enter the SUM function in all versions of Excel, including Excel Online: The answer will appear in the selected cell, and the SUM function formula will display in the formula bar.
