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ISTEXT.

Checks whether a value is text and returns TRUE or FALSE.

SyntaxArgumentsExampleInteractive SandboxGeneratorCompatibilityFAQRelatedCheat Sheet
Category: Information
ExcelExcel 365Excel 2021Excel 2019Google Sheets

How it works.

ISTEXT returns TRUE if a value is text, and FALSE for numbers, booleans (TRUE/FALSE), blank cells, or formula errors.

Formula syntax.

Standard Excel Notation
=ISTEXT(value)
Tip:Arguments wrapped in square brackets [like_this] are optional; all other arguments are required.

Formula arguments.

Every parameter accepted by the ISTEXT function is detailed below.

valueRequired

The cell reference or expression to inspect.

Example value: A2

Simple example.

Step-by-Step Scenario

Customer Data Audit - Name Format Check

Verify that customer names are stored as text.

Customer NameIs Text?
Acme Industrial—
12345—
North Star Ltd—
Applied Formula
=ISTEXT(A2)
Expected Result:true

Evaluates ISTEXT over the sample table cells, placing the verified output in cell B2.

Formula generator.

Full Generator Wizard

Customize the argument fields below to generate a tailored ISTEXT formula ready to paste directly into your worksheet.

Generated FormulaReady to copy
=ISTEXT()

Expected result behavior.

Returns boolean TRUE based on sample evaluation criteria and active cell references.

Sample Output:true
Output Type:Boolean Flag

Best Practices

  • Useful in customer signup forms to ensure phone number or national ID fields are formatted as clean text.

Common Mistakes

  • Empty cells return FALSE, not TRUE. Use ISBLANK if testing for empty cells.
Compatibility Database

Platform & version compatibility.

Verified platform compatibility matrix based on actual spreadsheet calculation engine specifications.

Excel✓
Supported
Excel 365✓
Supported
Excel 2021✓
Supported
Excel 2019✓
Supported
Google Sheets✓
Supported
Microsoft Excel History & Version Availability

Core standard function supported across all modern and legacy Microsoft Excel versions (365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010), as well as Excel for the Web and Mac.

Google Sheets Compatibility Notes

100% compatible with Google Sheets. Uses identical argument order, data types, and standard calculation logic.

Frequently asked questions.

Technical Q&A
Can I use ISTEXT across different worksheets in Excel?↓

Yes. You can reference cells located on other sheets by including the sheet name followed by an exclamation mark, for example: =ISTEXT(Sheet2!A2:A10). If the sheet name contains spaces, enclose it in single quotes: ='Q1 Report'!A2:A10.

What is the most common reason for errors in ISTEXT?↓

Empty cells return FALSE, not TRUE. Use ISBLANK if testing for empty cells.

Does ISTEXT work identically in Google Sheets?↓

Yes, ISTEXT is supported in both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets with standard evaluation behavior.