One way to try ..

Assuming the data is n A2 down,

Put in B2, and copy down:
=IF(OR(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("&",A2)),NOT(ISNUMBER(SEARC H("
",A2)))),A2,LEFT(A2,SEARCH(" ",A2)-1))

--
Rgds
Max
xl 97
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xdemechanik <atyahoo<dotcom
----
"Justin F." <Justin wrote in message
...
Hello Excel Gurus,

I've been searching the site for an answer to this question but as yet no
luck. If I missed a previous post on this topic I apologize, please direct
me
to it.

I have 1 column with a series of people's first names. Many have a middle
initial, some don't. About half of the cells are of two people's names
joined
by an "&". Sample data below:

Frank & Debbie J
Marshall & Teresa
Timothy R
Jeffrey D & Eileen N
Pamela J
James R & Rachel
Brooke S
Myung S
Martin F & Susan A
Kathleen

I need remove the middle initial and preserve the first names and the "&"
with a single space between the names and the "&". Can anyone provide me
with
a way to do this?

Many thanks in advance,
Justin F.