Reverse Text

Overview

Reverse Text applies one of three transformations to `text`, chosen with `mode`. The value must be `characters` (the default), `words` or `lines`.

In `characters` mode the string is split into JavaScript string units, reversed and joined, so "Hello World" becomes "dlroW olleH". Characters stored as two units, such as most emoji and some CJK extension characters, are split by this process and come out as broken symbols, and combining accents end up attached to the wrong letter. Strip or pre-process those first if they matter.

In `words` mode the text is split on single space characters only, the pieces are reversed and rejoined with single spaces. Punctuation stays attached to its word, so "Hello, world!" becomes "world! Hello,". Tabs and line breaks are not word separators in this mode, and consecutive spaces produce empty pieces that keep the spacing pattern in reverse order.

In `lines` mode the text is split on line feed characters and the lines are reversed and rejoined with line feeds; the content of each line is unchanged. Windows line endings leave a carriage return at the end of each line, which travels with it.

`reversed` holds the result, `original` echoes the input and `mode` echoes the mode applied. `length` is the length of the original text in JavaScript string units, which equals the character count for plain text but counts each emoji as two. No trimming or normalization is applied in any mode. The response is the same on every plan.

Live Test Reverse Text Source →

Formula

One function covers the whole catalog: the first argument names the source, the next are its inputs, and the field after them says which single value lands in the cell. Formulas covers the grammar that applies to all of them.

=VERVE("reversetext", A2, "reversed")

=VERVE.CALL("reversetext", A2, "reversed")

A2 holds the text you are looking up. Drag the formula down and each row resolves on its own.

With literal values

Nothing has to come from a cell — typed values work the same way.

=VERVE("reversetext", "Hello World", "reversed")

=VERVE.CALL("reversetext", "Hello World", "reversed")

Inputs

Required inputs are positional, in the order below, followed by the field. Everything else is passed as a "name", value pair after that — the same shape as SUMIFS. Premium inputs are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Passing an option

=VERVE("reversetext", A2, "reversed", "mode", "characters")

=VERVE.CALL("reversetext", A2, "reversed", "mode", "characters")

What lands in your sheet

The field — the argument after the inputs — is what makes the formula resolve to one cell. Its value is a dot-path from the table below, so swapping it is how you pull a different value — one formula per column.

Seeing everything at once

Leave the field out and the formula returns the whole response instead: two columns, field name on the left and value on the right, spilling from the cell you typed in.

=VERVE("reversetext", A2)

=VERVE.CALL("reversetext", A2)

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Each one is exactly what the field argument accepts, so swapping it is how you pull a different value into a cell. On a plan without a Premium field the cell reads #PREMIUM(field) rather than a value, so a locked field never looks like a real answer.

Filling a whole column

Both platforms make one batched call for a column rather than one request per cell, and both cost the same — 1 credit per row looked up. How you write it differs, because the two runtimes batch at different points.

=VERVE("reversetext", A2:A100, "reversed")

In Google Sheets, give the arguments ranges and the answers spill down from the cell you typed in. Custom functions there run synchronously and in isolation, so dragged cells cannot be coalesced — the range form is how a column becomes one call. The field is required here: a per-row two-column table has nowhere to spill. Use a full column per input (A2:A100, not A2) — a single-cell reference is read as row 1 only and the rest of the column comes back blank.

In Excel, type the formula once and fill down — no range form and none needed, because its runtime is asynchronous and the add-in coalesces the calls a fill produces into a single batched request. Do not hand VERVE.CALL a range: Excel flattens it into positional arguments, so A2:A100 arrives as a hundred separate arguments and the cell reads #ERR rather than filling.

Either way, column A holds your text values and the answers land beside them, one row each, blank rows skipped.

When a cell doesn't fill

A failed lookup returns readable text starting with #ERR rather than a spreadsheet error, because Excel cannot show a custom message on a real error — you would get a bare #VALUE! with no reason. The trade-off is that IFERROR() will not catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead. Error handling covers the rest.

Before the formula works

The add-in reads the API key you saved once in the side panel — the key never goes in the formula, so a shared sheet does not leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.

1. Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
2. Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
3. Type the formula above into any cell.

Use cases

Text Effects

Create reversed text effects for creative content and visual designs

String Manipulation

Reverse strings for data processing and algorithm testing

Content Transformation

Transform text content with different reversal modes for specific formatting needs

Data Processing

Process and reverse text data for analysis and transformation tasks

Other ways to use Reverse Text

Set up Reverse Text on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Related

More in Text Processing: