To take pleasure in Excel totally, you will need to know methods to use the IF-THEN perform.
![Download 10 Excel Templates for Marketers [Free Kit]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/53/9ff7a4fe-5293-496c-acca-566bc6e73f42.png)
The IF-THEN is one in all Excel’s most spectacular features, as you should utilize it to investigate knowledge, draw inferences and make selections below sure preset situations. However what precisely are IF-THEN statements, and how will you begin utilizing them?
On this information, we’ll present you methods to use IF-THEN statements to enhance your mastery of Excel.
Desk of Contents
What are IF-THEN Statements in Excel?
IF-THEN statements are features in Excel that return a singular set of actions after your preset situation is met.
Merely put, while you use the “If” assertion, you’re setting a situation and instructing Excel to carry out a singular set of actions when your preset situation is true and one other when the situation is fake.
To make use of the “If “ perform in Excel, you begin by writing the equal signal (=), adopted by “if,” then your situation, and a two-part syntax instructing this system on what to do when your necessities are or aren’t met.
The syntax normally seems to be like this:
- =IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
The “If” perform is useful, particularly when you will have a big knowledge quantity and wish to keep away from the stress of computing formulation for every knowledge. Right here’s an instance of how easy it’s to make use of IF-THEN statements in Excel:
On this instance, I’ve a spreadsheet containing three columns of knowledge. The place column A accommodates identify knowledge, and columns B and C, include integer knowledge.
Utilizing the If perform, I set a situation utilizing the syntax:
- =IF(B1>C1, “sure,” “no”)
This perform initiates a command telling the Excel program to check if the info worth in cell B1 is larger than the info worth in cell C1.
I’ve merely instructed Excel to present me a response of “sure” below the situation that the worth of cell B1 is larger than cell C1 and a response of “no” below the situation that the worth of cell B1 is lower than the worth of cell C1.
I then prolonged this perform to the opposite respective cells utilizing a easy autofill trick. Try our information on utilizing Excel like a professional for some useful methods to make your Excel expertise simpler.
It’s vital to notice that the IF-THEN assertion solely means that you can set a situation for 2 variables. Meaning you’ll be able to solely set situations together with, say, the info worth in cells B1 and C1 or a situation together with knowledge values in cell B1 and an outlined integer or textual content.
For instance, you’ll be able to set a situation instructing Excel to return a response of “Sure” if the worth in cell B1 is larger than the worth of cell B2 as proven within the instance above. Or, you’ll be able to set a situation asking Excel to return the response ”sure” or “no” if the worth of cell B1 is larger or lower than 1000.
Right here’s a fast instance:
Right here, I informed Excel to return the response “sure” if the info worth in cell C1 is larger than 5000 and “no” if the worth is lower than 5000.
Right here’s the response Excel returned:
As talked about earlier, the IF-THEN assertion is a strong Excel perform with quite a few advantages. Studying to make use of this perform correctly will astronomically enhance your mastery of Excel.
The Advantages of IF-THEN Statements In Excel
Listed here are some advantages that IF-THEN statements in Excel can give you:
Checking for Errors in Information
You should utilize IF-THEN statements to verify for errors when inputting knowledge into the spreadsheet.
For instance, for those who really feel like you will have made a mistake by inputting a quantity as a substitute of a textual content into your spreadsheet, you’ll be able to verify utilizing an if perform:
- IF(B1 = “”, “Textual content”, “Quantity”)
Calculating Debt Schedule or Depreciation Schedule
Monetary Analysts can use IF-THEN statements to calculate debt and depreciation schedules.
Utilizing the IF-THEN assertion, you’ll be able to set situations asking this system to return a response for months with excellent balances and even draw up a compensation schedule.
For Budgeting
As a monetary analyst, utilizing IF-THEN statements would make budgeting simpler. IF-THEN features will will let you create as much as 64 situations, which may help you in your budgeting course of.
To Arrange Information
The first capability of IF-THEN statements is setting directions below sure situations. Thus it’s simple to prepare knowledge in your spreadsheet below sure situations utilizing if statements.
You may set situations for a selected cell field or a number of cells and set up your spreadsheet knowledge below mentioned situations.
Works Nicely With Different Formulation
An thrilling benefit of IF-THEN statements is their flexibility. Resulting from its flexibility, you should utilize IF-THEN statements with different formulation in Excel.
For instance, you should utilize it with the DATEVALUE() perform, the SUM() perform, and even the COUNT() perform.
Easy methods to Use IF-THEN Statements in Excel
Now that you realize what an IF-THEN assertion is and the way it can profit you, the following step is understanding methods to use it correctly.
There are two strategies to make use of the perform, and we’ll begin with the fundamentals. First, right here’s a easy step-by-step process for writing IF-THEN statements in Excel.
Step 1: Click on on the cell you want to format, say cell A1.
Step 2: Write the IF-THEN perform formulation straight into the cell field.
Or within the formulation field. 
Step 3: Start writing your situations and anticipated responses to mentioned situations.
Keep in mind: At all times begin the formulation with an “equal” signal and enter the suitable punctuation so that you don’t get an error message after inputting the perform.
Right here’s another step-by-step you should utilize.
Different Step 1: Click on on the “Formulation” tab within the taskbar menu of your Excel program.
Different Step 2: Click on on the “Insert Perform” choice, which can launch a dialog menu:
Different Step 3: Choose “IF” from the record of choices within the dialog menu and click on “OK.” It is going to launch a dialog field.
Different Step 4: Within the dialog field, enter your situation and directions telling this system what solutions to return when the situation is met and when it isn’t met.
Word: It’s higher to make use of the “Insert Perform” technique for those who’re writing a easy IF-THEN perform, because it launches a formulation builder that may assist you to get rid of the dangers of errors when inputting your formulation.
This technique will mechanically enter the suitable punctuations and codecs and solely require you to enter your situations and directions within the three fields of the dialog field.
Now that you understand how to start out with the IF-THEN perform, let’s assessment the opposite use instances for if features.
Writing IF-THEN Perform for texts
IF-THEN features for texts are common IF-THEN features, however on this case, the perform checks for a string of textual content after which returns a preset response relying on whether or not the situation is fulfilled.
Utilizing the IF-THEN perform is kind of easy, and we’ve touched on it a number of instances within the examples thus far. Nevertheless, right here’s a step-by-step process for writing IF-THEN statements in Excel with textual content.
Step 1: Click on on the cell field the place you wish to insert the perform.
Step 2: Write the “equal” (=) signal.
Step 3: Begin writing the if assertion, together with the situations for the take a look at and the responses to be returned.
Step 4: After writing the if assertion, click on enter.
Right here’s an instance displaying methods to generate a comment stating who handed or failed a course for a first-year class utilizing IF-THEN statements in Excel with textual content:
On this instance, utilizing the IF-THEN perform:
- If(B2 = “Move,” “Scored above 50”, “Didn’t rating above 50”)
This system was requested to return a response of “Scored above 50” or “Didn’t rating above 50” if the string of textual content in cell B2 is the same as “Move.”
Nevertheless, we will take a look at the opposite manner round utilizing the perform:
- If(B2 <> “Move,” “Scored above 50”, “Didn’t rating above 50”)
This system was requested to return a response of “Scored above 50” or “Didn’t rating above 50” if the string of textual content in cell B2 isn’t equal to “Move.”
Word: At all times insert double citation marks when stating your textual content parameters.
IF-THEN statements are case-insensitive until in any other case acknowledged.
To make an IF-THEN assertion case-sensitive, you will need to precede your situation parameters with the phrase “EXACT.” Utilizing the instance above, Excel will take a look at for uppercase textual content with this formulation:
- IF(EXACT(B2, “PASSED”), “Scored above 50”, “Didn’t rating above 50”)
Writing IF-THEN Features for Numbers
You should know the essential Excel operators and their indicators earlier than writing IF-THEN statements in Excel for numbers. Right here’s a information to Excel that may assist you to be taught the essential Excel formulation, operators, and extra.
Comply with these steps.
Step 1: Click on on the cell field the place you wish to insert the perform.
Step 2: Write the “equal” (=) signal.
Step 3: Begin writing the if assertion, together with the situations for the take a look at and the responses to be returned.
Step 4: After writing the if assertion, click on enter. Your formulation ought to seem like this:
- IF(B2>=50, “Handed”, “Failed”)
Utilizing the perform above, we will write an IF-THEN assertion to verify if a pupil handed or failed a course. Right here’s an instance:
This perform units a situation to check if cell B2 accommodates an integer worth higher than or equal to 50. If this situation is met, this system will return a response of “Handed” and a “Failed” response if the situation isn’t met.
Word: IF-THEN features don’t solely work for integers. They’ll additionally work for actual numbers and adverse numbers.
Writing IF-THEN features for dates
One of many distinctive types of writing IF-THEN features is the date format. Many individuals might imagine they will write IF-THEN features for dates like they write IF-THEN features for numbers.
Sadly, that isn’t so.
Because the Excel program can not learn the common date format of mm/dd/yyyy, you’ll should insert the “DATEVALUE” perform into your IF-THEN perform to make the Excel program know that you just’re testing a date situation.
Your perform ought to seem like this:
- IF(B2>=DATEVALUE(“mm/dd/yyyy”), “sure,” “no”)
Right here’s a step-by-step process on methods to use this in your spreadsheet:
Step 1: In your spreadsheet, click on on the cell the place you wish to enter the perform.
Step 2: Write the “equal” (=) signal.
Step 3: Begin writing the if perform. Your syntax ought to look one thing like this:
Step 4: Click on Enter in your keyboard, and the perform will return a standing response of both “Launched” or “Unreleased.”
The perform above checks whether or not the date in cell B2 is larger than the eleventh of April 2023. The perform will give a “Launched” or “Unreleased” response relying on whether or not the situations are met or not.
Word: You may set the IF-THEN perform to match towards the present date by inputting the TODAY() perform into your IF-THEN perform.
That is what your perform ought to seem like:
- IF(B2>TODAY(), “Launched”, “Unreleased”)
Writing IF-THEN Features for A number of Situations (Nested IF statements)
A number of IF-THEN statements or Nested if statements, as generally known as, will let you add a number of if statements into one if assertion.
A Nested if assertion will seem like this:
- IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], if(logical take a look at, [value_if_true], if(logical take a look at, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])))
If you happen to wished to put in writing an IF-THEN perform to assign remarks to scores of first-year college students in a selected course. Right here’s how to do that in a number of steps:
Step 1: Click on on the cell field the place you wish to insert the perform
Step 2: Write the “equal” (=) signal.
Step 3: Start writing the IF-THEN perform. Your perform ought to look one thing like this:
- IF(B2>90, “Wonderful”, IF(B2>=80, “Very Good”, IF(B2>=70, “Good”, IF(B2>= 50, “Honest”, “Poor”))))
Step 4: Click on the Enter key to obtain a response to your perform.
The perform will return a response of “Wonderful” for college students who rating 90 or above; “Very Good” for college students who rating between 79 and 90; “Good” for college students who rating 69 and 80; “Honest” for college students who rating between 49 and 70; and “Honest” for college students that rating under 50.
Finest Practices for IF-THEN Statements in Excel
Listed here are some practices to comply with to get the most effective out of your IF-THEN features in Excel.
At all times use parentheses.
One of the simplest ways to keep away from errors in your formulation in Excel is by utilizing parentheses. Due to this fact, if you would like your if assertion to perform correctly, make sure you use parentheses appropriately.
For instance, when writing a number of conditionals or a nested if assertion, make sure you use parentheses in the proper locations to keep away from “#NAME?” errors.
Use vary as a substitute of cells.
While you use Vary as a substitute of Cells, you’ll be able to keep away from errors arising when cell knowledge modifications or your formulation must be adjusted.
Write out every part as its personal formulation.
It might sound pointless, however writing every spreadsheet part as its personal formulation would make your knowledge extra readable and simpler to grasp.
One other profit to doing that is that you’ll find every part you want in a single place and edit it in accordance with your wants.
Much more, if there’s an error together with your perform, writing every part as its personal formulation makes it simpler so that you can debug and discover any errors in your formulation.
By no means hesitate to make use of different formulation.
One unbelievable factor about Excel is that it allows you to use a number of features by inserting them into each other.
Like different formulation in Excel, you’ll be able to insert different features into your IF-THEN perform to get the most effective out of it.
Utilizing your IF-THEN perform alongside different formulation makes it simpler to make calculations, saves time (particularly while you’re working with massive knowledge), and makes it simple to identify any errors.
Getting Began
IF-THEN statements are sure to make your life simpler. Though it could be tough to know every part directly, you may discover it simple with fixed follow and steady use.
So don’t hesitate to go to this information anytime you face a problematic IF-THEN assertion problem.
