You can use a helper column. Suppose you have the data in ColA starting from
row1.

1. Enter the below formula in B1; and copy down as required
=MID(A1,FIND("-",A1)+1,99)
2. Now select both columns and sort by ColB..
3. You can now delete the helper column

If this post helps click Yes
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Jacob Skaria


"rebecca" wrote:

i have names i am copying and pasting from a word document into excel. they
are first and last names, together, each full name in the same cell.

i want to alphabetize the names, but by the last name. however, i want to
keep the first name coming first and the last name, second in each cell.

how can i alphabetize them by the last name when they are written in the
"first name-last name" order??