Usually these relative references are exactly what you want. But suppose you want to copy a formula but maintain the reference to the exact same cells it originally referred to? You can do this using absolute cell references. To create an absolute cell reference, simply place a dollar sign before the row and/or the column. For example, an absolute cell reference to B3 is $B$3. (You can create partially absolute references by placing a dollar sign before only the row or only the column. Then, when you copy the formula, the part with the dollar sign stays constant, but the part without the dollar sign is adjusted like a relative reference.)