ISTEXT
Returns TRUE if a value is text, FALSE otherwise.
ISTEXT(value)Arguments
valueThe value to check
=ISTEXT(A1)Checks if A1 contains text
=ISTEXT(123)Numbers are not text
=ISTEXT("123")Numbers as text return TRUE
- •Empty cells return FALSE
- •Errors return FALSE
- •Useful for data validation
- •Using ISTEXT on a number that's displayed with text-like formatting, expecting TRUE - formatting doesn't change the underlying data type, only actual text content does
- •Forgetting a cell can look like it contains a number but actually holds text (common after a CSV import), which ISTEXT would correctly flag as TRUE while other formulas silently misbehave
- •Assuming ISTEXT and ISNUMBER are opposites that cover every case - a blank cell returns FALSE for both, and an error value returns FALSE for both as well
Does ISTEXT return TRUE for a cell formatted as text but containing a number?
Yes, if the underlying value was actually typed or converted to text (common with a leading apostrophe), ISTEXT correctly identifies it as text, even if it looks like a number.
What does ISTEXT return for a blank cell?
FALSE - a blank cell isn't text, and it isn't a number either. Use ISBLANK for that specific case.
How do I fix a column where ISTEXT flags numbers as text?
Use VALUE() to convert those text-formatted numbers into real numbers, often combined with a helper column or Paste Special > Multiply by 1.
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