Google Sheets function
PROPER function in Google Sheets
PROPER in Google Sheets capitalizes the first letter of each word and changes the remaining letters to lowercase. Use it to standardize names, locations, and labels entered with inconsistent capitalization, while checking acronyms, abbreviations, brand names, and intentional internal capitals separately.
Source: Google Docs Editors HelpLast verified Nov 5, 2026
Syntax
=PROPER(text_to_capitalize)Arguments
| Argument | Required | What it means |
|---|---|---|
text_to_capitalize | Yes | The text whose words should use initial capital letters. |
Examples
Standardize a region name
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Region |
| 2 | nORTH rEGION |
=PROPER(A2)Result: North Region
PROPER capitalizes the first letter of each word and lowercases the other letters.
Common mistakes
Assuming PROPER preserves acronyms or internal capitals.
Review abbreviations and names such as McDonald after changing capitalization.
Using PROPER to remove extra spaces.
Use TRIM before PROPER when the source text contains unwanted spaces.