Excel NOT Function
Summary
The Excel NOT function returns the opposite of a given logical or boolean value. When given TRUE, NOT returns FALSE.When given FALSE, NOT returns TRUE. Use the NOT function to reverse a logical value.
Purpose
Reverse arguments or results
Return value
A reversed logical value
Syntax
=NOT (logical)
Arguments
- logical - A value or logical expression that can be evaluated as TRUE or FALSE.
Usage notes
Use the NOT function to reverse a value or logical argument:
- When logical is FALSE, NOT returns TRUE.
- When logical is TRUE, NOT returns FALSE.
A common use case for NOT is to reverse the behavior of another function. For example, If the cell A1 is blank, then the formula =ISBLANK(A1) will return TRUE. NOT can be used to reverse this result to FALSE like this:
In essence, by adding NOT, you are able to create a formula that behaves like ISNOTBLANK, which doesn't exist in Excel.
NOT formula examples
If you want to test a cell and take some action if the cell is not blank (not empty), you can use a simple formula based on the IF function.
In the example shown, we have a simple task list with a date complete in...
If you want to do something specific when a cell is NOT this or that (i.e. is NOT equal to X or Y, etc.) you can use the IF function in combination with the NOT and OR functions to run a test, then take one action if...
To test if all values in a range are at least a certain threshold value, you can use the COUNTIF function together with the NOT function. In the example shown, the formula in G5 is:
=NOT(COUNTIF(B5:F5,"<65...
If you want to use conditional formatting to highlight cells that are NOT between two values (a lower and upper limit), you can use a simple formula that returns TRUE when a value meets that condition. For example, if...
To count the number of cells that contain errors, you can use the ISERR and NOT functions, wrapped in the SUMPRODUCT function. In the generic form of the formula (above) rng represents the range in which you'd like to...
To highlight values in one column when values in one or more other columns are blank, you can use the OR function and a basic logical expression to test for blank or empty values. In the example shown, conditional...
If you want to highlight the differences between two columns of data with conditional formatting you can do so with a simple formula that uses the" not equal to" operator (e.g. ) and mixed references.
For example, if...
Related functions
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