Keep Duplicate Records Available While Reviewing Their Highlights

Use a rule to make repeats visible

Duplicate entries can arise from typing or importing data, but not every repeated value should be removed. The source recommends conditional formatting with a custom formula to highlight potential matches. Begin by selecting the relevant cells and opening Format, Conditional formatting. The rule then provides a visible signal while leaving the underlying data available for inspection.

Check which field establishes a repeat

An email address, product identifier, or order number may have different uniqueness requirements. Choose the tested range according to that requirement rather than applying the same assumption to every column. Review highlighted entries in context before changing them. A repeated identifier may indicate an error, an expected relationship, or a record that needs more investigation. Highlighting is useful precisely because it allows that decision to happen before a cleanup removes information from the sheet.