Microsoft Excel’s T Function

Did you know there are only two functions in Excel that consist of one character?  They are the T function and the N function. Both are simple and very handy.

In this tutorial we’re covering the T function and I’ll show you a few different uses for it.  And just like Excel’s T function, this tutorial is going to be short and sweet.

The syntax for the T Function

=T(value)

In English (this time straight from Microsoft for a change) the T function reads:

=T(checks whether a value is text, and returns the text if it is or returns double quotes (empty text) if it isn’t)

Examples of the T Function in Action

When to Use Excel’s T Function

When you refer to a blank cell simply using =A1 you will get a 0. If you want to use this result in another formula it can cause problems, or it might simply be that it makes your spreadsheet appear untidy.

The table below goes through a few scenarios:

Row 12’s result in column D is fine since there are no blank cells referred to in the formula, but  looking down column D we can see some of the formulas result in a ‘0’ included where it’s not wanted.

Go here for more on the CONCATENATE and ampersand (&) formulas used above.

Download the workbook.

Have you got a use for the T function? Tell me what you think in the comments below.