Excel + Google Sheets · ISNUMBER + SEARCH
Check if a cell contains a word
SEARCH finds the word (any case); ISNUMBER turns it into TRUE or FALSE.
The formula
=ISNUMBER(SEARCH("refund", A2))What each part means
SEARCH("refund", A2)Where the word isISNUMBER(...)Found = TRUE
Example
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Support ticket | Refund? |
| 2 | I want a refund please | |
| 3 | Where is my order? | |
| 4 | Refund not received | |
| 5 | Change my address |
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Support ticket | Refund? |
| 2 | I want a refund please | TRUE |
| 3 | Where is my order? | FALSE |
| 4 | Refund not received | TRUE |
| 5 | Change my address | FALSE |
Step by step
- Click cell B2.
- Type the formula:
=ISNUMBER(SEARCH("refund", A2)) - Press Enter.
- Drag the small square in the bottom-right corner of the cell down to copy it to the other rows.
Where it works
- Every version of Excel
- Google Sheets
- Excel for the web (free)
The same formula in other languages
- English ISNUMBER + SEARCH
- Español ESNUMERO + HALLAR
- Português ÉNÚM + LOCALIZAR