Definition: Most Excel functions are designed to accept data that it then uses in its calculations. This data is referred to as arguments and go between the round brackets that follow the functions name.
The IF function, for example, has three distinct arguments:
- the logic test
- the value if true
- the value if false
This function is written in the form:
=IF(logic test, value if true, value if false)
For the IF function, the logic test must be a comparison of some sort, while the “value if true� and “value if false� arguments can be numbers, text, or even other IF functions.
Other functions, such as the SUM function, will accept values or cell references as arguments, while others accept text. There are also functions, such as the TODAY() function, that do not require the user to input arguments.
Common Misspellings: arguement
Examples:
The IF function uses the comma to separate the three parts or arguments of the IF function contained within the round brackets. If you use a comma as a separator in numbers greater than a thousand, Excel will give you an error message saying you have too many arguments in your function.
