Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • TECHNOLOGY FEATURE

Six questions to ask before jumping into a spreadsheet

Spreadsheet software can be frustrating, but adopting some helpful habits can improve its effectiveness.
By
  1. Stephanie Melchor

    1. Stephanie Melchor is a science writer based in Silicon Valley, California.

Illustration of an excel spreadsheet with the individual cells coloured to create 6 question marks and a person pointing to one of them.

Illustration: The Project Twins

Ask a bunch of scientists whether they use spreadsheets in their work and you’re bound to touch a nerve. Many have sworn off spreadsheets, others swear by them and some swear profusely when they’re forced to use them.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 644, 569-570 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-02511-z

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing

Search

Advanced search

Quick links