Microsoft Excel Terminology

Range

A single cell or any rectangular block of cells

Data point

A single value originating in a worksheet

Chart sheet

A special worksheet which contains a single chart only

Spreadsheet

A type of software for evaluating information

Formula Bar

Found directly above column headings; shows location in spreadsheet and what was typed in cell

Border

Lines used to distinguish different zones on a worksheet

Values

Numbers that represent a quantity

Sheet tab

Tabs you use to select different sheets

Cell/active cell

A cell is the rectangular area where a row and column intersect

Embedded chart

A chart which is positioned as part of an existing worksheet

AutoFormat

A feature that allows you to change a worksheet's overall appearance by choosing from predefined formats

Chart

A graphic representation of data

Data marker

A graphic representing a single value (bar, slice, etc.)

Nonadjacent range

A group of individual cells or ranges of cells that are not next to each other

Data series

A group of related data points

Sheet

A page in an Excel workbook

Functions

A prewritten formula that provides a shortcut to common calculations

Formulas

An arithmetical expression used to calculate values

Relative cell reference

Cell reference which changes according to the location of the cell in which the reference occurs

Absolute cell reference

Cell reference which remains fixed even if the cell in which the reference occurs is moving to a new location

Input

Data that is to be entered into a worksheet

Plot area

The area defined by the X and Y axes of a chart

Output

The information the worksheet is designed to generate

Workbook

The name of a document in Excel

Order of precedence

The rules for determining how to perform calculations containing multiple arithmetical operators

Argument

The specific values on which the function is to operate