Microsoft Excel’s T Function

Mynda Treacy

March 11, 2011

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

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

Excel T Function syntax

=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

Excel T Function examples

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.

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

AUTHOR Mynda Treacy Co-Founder / Owner at My Online Training Hub

CIMA qualified Accountant with over 25 years experience in roles such as Global IT Financial Controller for investment banking firms Barclays Capital and NatWest Markets.

Mynda has been awarded Microsoft MVP status every year since 2014 for her expertise and contributions to educating people about Microsoft Excel.

Mynda teaches several courses here at MOTH including Excel Expert, Excel Dashboards, Power BI, Power Query and Power Pivot.

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