To enter a fraction in Excel you must enter a zero followed by a space then the fraction. Omitting the zero and space will result in Excel entering a date.

• In sample below 3/4 was entered into cell A2 and resulted in a date.
   

• In cell B2,  0 3/4 (zero, space, 3,/,4 - without commas) was entered and a fraction, 3/4, (.75) was the result.

When entering a compound fraction, enter the whole number followed by a space and then the fraction.

In sample below, the space was omitted from the entry in cell A4.