Step 1 of 8
Learn
Before you start
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Perform basic spreadsheet cleanup.
- Standardize information consistently.
- Identify duplicates and missing data.
- Use sorting, filtering, and basic formulas appropriately.
- Quality-check a spreadsheet before delivery.
Key idea
Accuracy is part of the deliverable. A neatly formatted spreadsheet containing incorrect data is still poor work.
Learn
Core spreadsheet skills
- Rows, columns, and headers
- Sorting and filtering
- Basic formatting
- Find/replace
- Duplicate identification
- Date and text consistency
- Basic formulas such as SUM, COUNT, and simple IF logic
- Data validation where appropriate
Learn
Data-cleaning workflow
INSPECT→
DEFINE RULES→
CLEAN→
VALIDATE→
SPOT-CHECK→
SAVE→
REPORT
Learn
Standardization examples
| Problem | Inconsistent examples | Standard approach |
|---|---|---|
| Names | maria cruz / Maria Cruz / MARIA CRUZ | Use one agreed capitalization convention |
| Phone | 0917-123-4567 / +639171234567 | Use the client's required format |
| Dates | 01/02/26 / 2026-02-01 | Use one date standard |
| Status | active / Active / ACTIVE | Use controlled values |
Practice
Pick the standardized version
0 of 4 checked.
Practice
Spot the duplicates
Eight records below include two people entered twice, each with slightly different formatting. Click the later, duplicate entry for each — not the first occurrence.
Practice → Decide
Missing required field
While cleaning a contact list, you find a record missing a required email address. The client didn't say what to do about missing fields.
What's the right move?
Apply
Work sample: Cleaned Client Spreadsheet
Keep both the original and cleaned version of a few records, and document the rules you used so another person can understand your changes.
💾 Save your work now. Copy this into a Google Sheet — that's part of your starter portfolio.
Preview / export
✓ Lesson 7 Processed
Nice work.
You've practiced standardizing messy data, spotting duplicates, and handling missing information without guessing.