Editing · original practice scenario
Abandon the current edit
Put Cedar in B2 and commit it. Re-enter edit mode and replace the pending text with Harbor without confirming the entry.
Start here: Cell editor or formula bar
This cancels a pending edit. It does not certify clearing a copied-range marquee or erasing an already saved value.
Follow these instructions in your own desktop Excel workbook. This page explains the operation; it does not send commands to Excel.
Mac keys and context
Cancels the pending entry; it does not clear the saved cell value.
Esc
Enter data on a sheet. Microsoft reference ↗
Walk through the operation
- Confirm that Harbor is pending in the editor while Cedar is the last committed value.
- Press Esc to abandon the pending cell edit.
- Select B2 again and inspect its saved value; do not press Delete.
Instruction 1 of 3: Confirm that Harbor is pending in the editor while Cedar is the last committed value.
Expected result: B2 retains Cedar; the pending Harbor entry has been discarded.
Recall the keys
Which listed Mac combination or sequence starts this operation in the context above?
Related walkthroughs
- Select one character right while editing
- Select one character left while editing
- Insert complete worksheet rows
- Insert complete worksheet columns
Catalog updated 2026-10-18. US keyboard notation: + joins held keys; commas separate successive presses. Function keys may require Fn. Desktop instructions are separate from this browser's own keyboard shortcuts.