Here is a list of useful terminology to help beginners get to grips with Microsoft Excel to help build arguments, queries and general knowledge.

Term	Description
Active cell	The current selected cell. Only one cell can be active at any one time and is highlighted by a heavy border.
Active sheet	The current sheet that you are working on. The name of the tab of the active sheet is bold. Multiple sheets can be selected and ‘active’ at one time.
Address	The path to an object, document, file, page, or other destination.
Argument	This is the logic that Excel must use to perform an operation or calculation. The type of argument that a function uses is specific to the function. Arguments that are used within functions include numbers, text, cell references and names.
Array	An array is a range of consecutive cells that are grouped together. They are usually denoted by a colon “:” between the first and the last cell of the range. An array can refer to a row (A1:B1), a column (A1:A2) or a table (A1:B2).
Array formula	Array formulas can calculate one or more items in an array. These can be multi-cell arrays or single-cell arrays.
Calculated column	A calculated column uses a single formula that adjusts for each row and automatically expands to include additional rows in that column so that the formula is immediately extended to those rows.
Calculated field	Calculated fields are formulas that can refer to other fields in an Excel pivot table.
Calculated item	Calculated items are formulas that can refer to other items within a specific pivot field.
Cell reference	The cell reference shows the name of the cell or table being selected.
Chart	A chart is a graphical representation for data visualisation. Charts allow for easier comparison and identification of trends.
Circular reference	A circular reference refers to an incidence where the output of a formula or function in a cell influences one or more cells which is used in its own calculation, creating an endless loop.
Column heading	The column heading is the grey row above row 1 is used to identify each column in the worksheet. This in combination with the row headings give the cell reference at the point of intersection.
Conditional format	Changes the visual formatting of the cell based on certain criteria.
Constant	A constant is a hardcoded entry or value in a cell and is not calculated by a formula.
Criteria	The ‘criteria’ parameter is a condition that must be met in the ‘range’ parameter within certain Excel functions.
Data validation	A feature that allows certain inputs based on rules or a predefined list.
Delimiter	A special character that acts as a separator within a data string. For example a name separated by a comma – Smith, John. You can separate the data into different cells using the ‘Text to columns’ feature in Excel.
Dependents	Cells which reference other cells in a formula or function.
Destination area	Is the range of cells that hold the summarised data in consolidation.
Drop down list box	A drop down list is a data validation function that lets the user select an option from a list of choices.

Embedded chart	An embedded chart appears on the same sheet as its data source as opposed to a sheet of its own.
Error code	An error code indicates that Excel does not recognise something and is unable to return a suitable value. This can be due to a cell reference that doesn’t exist, a numerical calculation that is not possible or misspelling of a function etc.
Evaluate formulas	A feature that methodically works through formulas and functions in a step by step fashion. It allows users to debug long and complex formulas and functions.
External reference	An external reference is a reference to an external workbook.
Field (pivot table)	Areas that are used to layout data in a pivot table.
Fill handle	Located at the bottom right-hand corner of a selected cell or cell range. When hovered over the mouse pointer turns into a cross and if double clicked will auto-fill cells below to the end of the data range.
Filter	The filter feature allows users to focus on crucial elements of the data set by temporarily excluding all non-relevant data based on the chosen criteria.
Formula	A formula is a type of equation that shows the correlation between two or more variables.
Formula bar	The input box of the spreadsheet pane. The formula bar allows you to input formulas or values into the active cell, or to display the formula or contents of the currently selected cell.
Formula palette	A formula palette is a tool that helps users create or edit formulas and provides information about functions and their arguments.
Freeze panes	This feature freezes the selected row and/ or column so that they always remain visible while scrolling across the sheet. This is very useful when looking at multiple data sets or large tables on one screen.
Function	A function is a preset formula that performs mathematical and/ or logical tasks
Gridlines	These are light grey borders which show the boundaries of the cells. These are not visible on printed documents. You can remove gridlines by going into the Excel options tab.
Gridlines (charts)	Gridlines extend from any horizontal and vertical axes across the plot area of the chart.
Identifier	An identifier, or sometimes a unique identifier (UID) is a unique reference that allows data from an updated data source to be accurately matched to the relevant row in your data set. This could be an employee ID, or a combination of first and last names.
Index	The index function returns a value or the reference to a value from within a table or range. This is frequently paired with the ‘match’ function to specify the column and row number which intersect to return the correct value.
Macros	Macros are a sequence of instructions or inputs that can be copied via keyboard and mouse or written with VBA code. Once complete the macro can be activated with a single click or keyboard shortcut. This is perfect for repetitive multi-step tasks.
Merged cell	Merged cells is a feature which allows you to combine two or more adjacent cells into one.
Mixed reference	A mixed reference is where part of the reference is absolute and part is relative. An example would be dragging a formula in a cell which references $A1. The $ prefix makes the column absolute so that dragging the to the left or right does not change the column that it is referencing, however if you drag the formula down it will reference the relative rows.

Named reference	A cell or range that has been named for ease of use. This can be managed via the Name Manager in the formulas tab.
Name box	The name box shows the cell or name of the table selected. It can also be used to rename cells, cell ranges and tables.
Nesting	This is when a formula or function is placed within another. This usually occurs when a function requires the value output from another, therefore the inner function can pass a result directly to the outer function.
Number formatting	Specifies how to display the value contained with a cell. This can be date, time, percentage, currency etc.
Page break	A dotted line indicating the end of the printed page in an Excel worksheet.
Parameter	A parameter is a limit or boundary which defines the scope of a particular process or activity. Arguments can include a ‘criteria’ parameter and a ‘range’ parameter to return matching values.
Password	Password protection can be used to prevent others from accessing data in your Excel files.
Pivot table	An extraction of your original table with source data. Pivot tables allow for easy and quick manipulation of data sets, allowing users to slice and summarise data in a variety of ways.
Precedents	Cells which are referenced by a function or formula in another cell.
Protect	A feature to protect specific cells, worksheets, layouts and structure within a workbook.
Range	A range is a group of cells, usually in a row, column or table but don’t necessarily need to be adjacent to each other.
Reference	A reference refers to a value in another cell. A relative reference changes according to where the formula is copied. For example if you copy the formula 1 row down and 2 columns right, the cell that it references will be 1 row down and 2 columns right of the originally referenced cell. If you want to avoid this you can lock the cell reference by prefixing the column letter and row number with a $ ($A$1).
Relative reference	By default, a cell reference is a relative reference, which means that the reference is relative to the location of the cell.
Remote reference	A remote reference is a cell that references a cell or cell range in another worksheet.
Ribbon	The ribbon is the menu at the top of the screen which holds menu items and tools.
Row heading	The row heading is the grey column to the left of column A is used to identify each row in the worksheet. This in combination with the column headings give the cell reference at the point of intersection.
Select all button	The select all button is located at the top left of every workbook at the origin of the row and column headings.
Slicer	A more dynamic and efficient way to use filters. Especially in dashboards where slicers can update filters and multiple pivot tables simultaneously.
Sort order	A feature that allows the arranging of a dataset by a specified column in ascending or descending order by numerically or alphabetically.

Template	A pre-built file which may have layouts, and formulas built in so that the file can be easily reused. Similar to letterheads.
Text to columns	A feature within excel that allows the separation of data via delimiters from a single to multiple columns.
Transpose	A feature that allows data to be pasted in the opposite direction. For example, pasting 10 numbers in a single row into a single column.
Visual basics	Also known as VBA, this is programming language/ codeused by Excel to write macros.
Workbook	A workbook is an Excel file.
Worksheet	A sheet within an Excel file.
Wrap Text	A feature which automatically adjusts the height of the cell to make all its content visible.