How do I prevent Excel from auto-correcting the date format?

[Watts]

I am using Excel, and every time I enter 2/1 in the spreadsheet - it corrects
it to Feb-1. How do I prevent it from doing this?

 

[Max]

One way is to format the input column / range as Text first
(via Format > Cells > Number tab > Text > OK)

 

[Dave Peterson]

Another way is to start with a leading apostrophe:

'2/1