A formula full of cell references like =SUM(B2:B40)/COUNT(C2:C40) means nothing to anyone reopening the sheet months later — including you.
Named ranges let a formula describe what it's actually doing, in plain words.
Here's the trick:
Define Name turns =B2:B40 into =SalesQ1, so your formulas actually read like sentences.
How to use it
- Select the range you want to name.
- Click into the Name Box, just to the left of the formula bar.
- Type a name with no spaces, such as SalesQ1, and press Enter.
- Use that name inside formulas going forward — for example =SUM(SalesQ1) instead of =SUM(B2:B40).
Where it helps most
Formulas that are still readable months later, and ranges that update everywhere they're used at once, if you edit the underlying range through Formulas > Name Manager.
One thing to watch for
If you insert rows or columns that shift the original range, check the Name Manager afterward to make sure the name still points to where you expect.
Found a faster way to do this, or a version that works differently on Mac? That's what the comments are for — this section connects to your comment system of choice (Disqus, giscus, etc.) once the site is live.