I would try clearing formatting insert and num pad dash) right click (numpad * key) and clear formatting from the menu, then reformat from the format menu, select date as the cell data type and the format you want to use from the list, you may wish to do this to the entire column so you don't have that trouble again (spacebar and control to select the entire column, then do the above formatting rundown again) HTH, inthane Moderator, Blind Access Help Owner: Alacorn Computer Enterprises Specialists in customized computers and peripherals - own the might and majesty of a Alacorn! www.alacorncomputer.com proprietor, The Grab Bag, for blind computer users and programmers http://grabbag.alacorncomputer.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Onward Bob To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 3:23 PM Subject: An Excel question This is a strange one. On a worksheet when I enter 1-5 in a date column it reads 5-Jan., which is fine. Only on one line when I enter 1-5 it reads Jan. 11, and nothing I do can stop it, regardless of what I enter in that cell. help!