What to do if we want to count cells with text?
For me, the simplest solution is using the COUNTIF function and wildcards. We have an asterisk that represents any text string, even an empty one. We also have a question mark that represents just one single sign (Fig. 1).
Let’s start with counting all cells with text. First, we have to select a proper range and press the F4 key to lock it. Then, we have to write an asterisk in double quotes so that it counts any text string, even an empty one (Fig. 2).
=COUNTIF($B$2:$B$11,”*”)
And just like that we have 4 cells with text. In cell B6 I have pasted an empty text string and even if we see nothing, Excel counts it as a cell with an empty text string. But, what can we do if we don’t want to count empty text strings? We can copy our formula and add a question mark next to the asterisk. It doesn’t matter if it’s before or after the sign (Fig. 4).
=COUNTIF($B$2:$B$11,”?*”)
This way we counted all cells that have at least one sign (Fig. 5).
If we want to count all not empty cells, we can change our criteria to the <> signs (Fig. 6).
=COUNTIF($B$2:$B$11,”<>”)
However, the simplest solution in most cases would be using the COUNTA function, where we don’t have to worry about any criteria (Fig. 7).
=COUNTA(B2:B11)
