Sorting by first word in column only

[mjservingjesus]

I would like to find a way to sort Alphabetically by only the first word in a column. For example, I have Dilger Ave Apt 324, and I would like excel to sort only "Dilger" and then sort another column "second in line". Right now when I try to sort, it will sort out Dilger, then Ave, then Apt, then number, and only after all that will it go to the secondary column. I want it to simply sort "Dilger" and then the next specified column. Any tips on how to do this? I have only intermediate Excel knowledge so a little explanation on anything complicated would be great. Thank you!

 

[Michael M]

If you want to sort by the first word only, try putting a formula in an adjacent column and then sorting by that column
So 2 options would be

1.

Excel 2003
	A	B
1	Dilger avenue	Dilger
2	Adam street	Adam
3	zebra avenue	zebra
4	brown place	brown
Sheet1

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
B1	=LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1,1))
B2	=LEFT(A2,FIND(" ",A2,1))
B3	=LEFT(A3,FIND(" ",A3,1))
B4	=LEFT(A4,FIND(" ",A4,1))

2.

Excel 2003
	A	B
1	Dilger avenue	D
2	Adam street	A
3	zebra avenue	z
4	brown place	b
Sheet1

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
B1	=LEFT(A1,1)
B2	=LEFT(A2,1)
B3	=LEFT(A3,1)
B4	=LEFT(A4,1)

Once completed, delete the unwanted column