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To merge three cells in Excel, use the built-in Merge & Center command on the Home tab. The command joins multiple adjacent cells into one larger cell. The merged cell keeps only the content from the upper-left cell.

Understanding Cell Merging

Merging combines the structure of selected cells into one cell. Excel removes grid separation and presents the merged area as a single block. The command supports horizontal and vertical merging.

Steps to Merge Three Cells (Windows and Mac)

1. Select the three adjacent cells you want to merge.
   The cells must touch each other either horizontally or vertically.

2. Go to the Home tab.

3. Click the Merge & Center drop-down arrow.

4. Choose one of these merge options:

   • Merge & Center: Combines cells and centers the text.

   • Merge Across: Merges groups of cells in each row.

   • Merge Cells: Combines cells without centering text.

5. Confirm the merge. Excel keeps the value from the top-left cell.

Differences Between Windows and Mac

• Windows shows Merge & Center as a button with a drop-down arrow.

• Mac presents the same options inside the drop-down, but the layout spacing varies slightly.

• Shortcut behavior differs:

  • Windows uses Alt → H → M → C for Merge & Center.

  • Mac uses Control + Option + M for the merge menu.

Important Attributes of Cell Merging

• The merged cell supports text alignment formatting.

• Data in the non-primary cells is removed during merging.

• Sorting and filtering functions work differently on merged cells because the merged area does not split back into separate rows or columns automatically.

• Users often apply merging to create titles, labels, and headers for tables.

Best Practices for Merging Cells

1. Merge only when layout clarity is required.

2. Use Center Across Selection instead of merging when alignment is the only goal. This preserves individual cells.

3. Keep merged cells out of sortable datasets.

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