Excel Explained

Interactive explainers for how Excel really works. Each one takes a function people use by rote (or avoid entirely) and lets you pull it apart argument by argument until the mental model clicks.

• OFFSET() It doesn't move anything. Walk a reference around a live grid and build a trailing-12-month sum one argument at a time.

More on the way. If there's a function you'd like to see pulled apart next, let me know.