--- title: "Question and Answer: How do I suppress the #N/A results when using VLOOKUP in Microsoft Excel?" description: This question comes up from time to time in our Microsoft Excel workshops VLOOKUP is one of the very helpful functions in Microsoft Excel It allows u image: https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15478437-jpg/images/questions_and_answers_small.jpg --- - [Home](https://www.people-onthego.com/) - [Contact Us](https://www.people-onthego.com/company/) - [Blog](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/) [![pog_logo_on_white_tall](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-2213160099-jpg/people-onthego/pog_logo_on_white_tall.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/) ![Less Is More Blog Productivity Tips](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15411125-jpg/Top%20pictures/pog_top_5.jpg) ### Join us at the Webinars **[![2021_Webinars_Schedule_People-OnTheGo](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2021_Webinars_Schedule_People-OnTheGo.jpg?width=163&name=2021_Webinars_Schedule_People-OnTheGo.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/webinars)** **[Click for our Webinars Schedule.](https://www.people-onthego.com/webinars)** ### The Perfect 15-Minute Day Method is here! [![Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The_Perfect_15-Minute_Day/Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg?width=204&height=138&name=Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg "Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg")](https://youtu.be/zSgfyTYgLa8) Order the [book](http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-15-Minute-Day-Managing-Thoughts/dp/1532783817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465191234&sr=8-1&keywords=the+perfect+15-minute+day)[,](http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-15-Minute-Day-Managing-Thoughts/dp/1532783817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465191234&sr=8-1&keywords=the+perfect+15-minute+day) [eBook](https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-15-Minute-Day-Managing-Thoughts-ebook/dp/B01GNFWKNU?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20perfect%2015-minute%20day&qid=1465191346&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3), [journal](http://www.lulu.com/shop/pierre-khawand/the-perfect-15-minute-day-journal-managing-your-time-your-thoughts-and-your-emotions/paperback/product-22734416.html), or [eCourse](https://app.ruzuku.com/courses/15268/about) to get started right away and inject a healthy dose of accomplishments and happiness in your workday and beyond! **[Learn more!](https://www.people-onthego.com/theperfect15minuteday-details)** ### Get Our Free eBook *The Results Curve™: How to Manage Focused and Collaborative Time* [![](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15436133-jpg/images/ebookcoverpagesmall.jpg?width=135&name=ebookcoverpagesmall.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/focused-versus-collaborative-time-free-eBook/) [**Click to download.**](https://www.people-onthego.com/focused-versus-collaborative-time-free-eBook/) ### Buy Accomplishing More With Less at Amazon [![AMLWorkbookCoverFinishedSmall](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15420951-jpg/images/AMLWorkbookCoverFinishedSmall.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Accomplishing-More-With-Less-Workbook/dp/1448675553) [**Available in paperback.**](http://www.amazon.com/Accomplishing-More-With-Less-Workbook/dp/1448675553) **[And Kindle Edition for Kindle and iPhone users.](http://www.amazon.com/Accomplishing-More-Less-Workbook-ebook/dp/B002Y26Y9I/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2)** [![describe the image](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15439972-jpg/images/freewebinars_ppl.jpg?width=186&name=freewebinars_ppl.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/free-webinars-lunch-and-learn/)[**Learn more about our free Lunch & Learn Webinars.**](https://www.people-onthego.com/free-webinars-lunch-and-learn) # Less-Is-More Blog by Pierre Khawand ## [Question and Answer: How do I suppress the #N/A results when using VLOOKUP in Microsoft Excel?](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/bid/36460/Question-and-Answer-How-do-I-suppress-the-N-A-results-when-using-VLOOKUP-in-Microsoft-Excel) Posted by [Pierre Khawand](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/author/pierre-khawand) on Wed, Mar 17, 2010 @ 09:01 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Microsoft Excel VLOOKUP Suppressing #N/A](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15478437-jpg/images/questions_and_answers_small.jpg)This question comes up from time to time in our Microsoft Excel workshops. VLOOKUP is one of the very helpful functions in Microsoft Excel. It allows us to lookup values from various lists and use the results as necessary. For insatnce, I might have the following list:   ![Microsoft Excel VLOOKUP](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15437776-jpg/images/excel-vlookup-list.jpg) And if I would like to find the Class Title that corresponds to Registration Number 10024, I can use VLOOKUP as follows: =VLOOKUP(10024,A7:D16,4,FALSE) In this case, VLOOKUP tries to find an exact match for 10024 and if it finds it, it returns the Class Title. In this case, it would return Word. But what if VLOOKUP doesn't find the desired results. For instance if I am try to look for Registration 12020 (which doesn't exist in the list), then VLOOKUP would return: #N/A While this may not be a big deal in some situations, it can be quite distracting if I am using VLOOKUP to populate a column in a report from another table (which is what VLOOKUP is best at). Suddenly my report may have several of these #N/A's which ideally would be replaced by something more user friends or be suppressed all together. #### How can you manage or suppress the #N/A? To manage or suppress the #N/A's, you need to make use of 2 functions: - ISNA() which determines if the result of the VLOOKUP is #N/A   - IF() which allows you to replace the #N/A result or suppress it This is the syntax of the "smarter" VLOOKUP statement: > =IF(ISNA(VLOOKUP(12020,A7:D16,4,FALSE)),"Not Found",VLOOKUP(12020,A7:D16,4,FALSE)) Or if you want to suppress it all together: > =IF(ISNA(VLOOKUP(12020,A7:D16,4,FALSE)),"",VLOOKUP(12020,A7:D16,4,FALSE)) #### Additional Excel Resources [Microsoft Excel Techniques workshop](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/microsoft-excel-techniques/) [Advanced Excel PivotTables](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/advanced-excel-pivottables/) [Microsoft Excel Macros](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/microsoft-excel-macros/) Topics: [Microsoft Office 2007](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-office-2007), [Microsoft Excel Tutorial](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-excel-tutorial) ### Subscribe by Email [![Need an employee training solution that's flexible and affordable? Find out about our webinars & onsite training programs.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/74033/b2ec9b00-f03b-48d4-b679-0d2e0c48ea7d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/74033/b2ec9b00-f03b-48d4-b679-0d2e0c48ea7d) ### Write Your Comments ![](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-2236603855-png/images/write_blog_typewriter.png?width=178&name=write_blog_typewriter.png) We want to hear from you! Please write your comments in the blog and let us know what you think. ### Connect with us! ### Browse by Tag - [accomplishment (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/accomplishment) - [books (2)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/books) - [business results (42)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/business-results) - [business writing (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/business-writing) - [career (20)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/career) - [collaboration (10)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/collaboration) - [corporate training (2)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/corporate-training) - [document collaboration (6)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/document-collaboration) - [effective meetings (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/effective-meetings) - [email etiquette (8)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/email-etiquette) - [email management (27)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/email-management) - [emerging technology (10)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/emerging-technology) - [generations in the workplace (4)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/generations-in-the-workplace) - [getting organized (15)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/getting-organized) - [giveaway (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/giveaway) - [Gmail (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/gmail) - [Google+ (14)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/google) - [guest bloggers (12)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/guest-bloggers) - [happiness (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/happiness) - [human resources (5)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/human-resources) - [information overload (4)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/information-overload) - [interruptions (16)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/interruptions) - [leadership (30)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/leadership) - [Lunch & Learn Webinars (21)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/lunch-learn-webinars) - [management (19)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/management) - [managing stress (24)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/managing-stress) - [Microsoft Excel Tutorial (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-excel-tutorial) - [Microsoft Office 2007 (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-office-2007) - [Microsoft Office 2010 (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-office-2010) - [microsoft office 2013 (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-office-2013) - [Microsoft PowerPoint Training (4)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-powerpoint-training) - [Microsoft Project Training (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-project-training) - [Microsoft SharePoint Training (5)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-sharepoint-training) - [Microsoft Word Training (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-word-training) - [productivity (57)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/productivity) - [produtivity (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/produtivity) - [social media (24)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/social-media) - [social media marketing (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/social-media-marketing) - [stress management (10)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/stress-management) - [summary-plus-commentary (9)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/summary-plus-commentary) - [survey (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/survey) - [team work (9)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/team-work) - [Technology (31)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/technology) - [time management tips (51)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/time-management-tips) - [time on social media (5)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/time-on-social-media) - [tip-of-the-month (8)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/tip-of-the-month) - [to do list (2)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/to-do-list) - [tools and supplies (8)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/tools-and-supplies) - [twitter (6)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/twitter) - [virtual teams (7)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/virtual-teams) - [webinars (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/webinars) - [wellness (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/wellness) ### Latest Posts - [Home](https://www.people-onthego.com/) | - [eBooks](https://www.people-onthego.com/ebooks/) | - [Books](https://www.people-onthego.com/accomplishing-more-with-less-books/) - [Workshops](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/) | - [Memberships](https://www.people-onthego.com/memberships/) | - [Specials](https://www.people-onthego.com/specials/) | - [Free Webinars](https://www.people-onthego.com/free-webinars-lunch-and-learn/) | - [Less-Is-More Blog](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/) | - [News & Events](https://www.people-onthego.com/news-events/) | - [Speaker](https://www.people-onthego.com/speaker/) | - [Company](https://www.people-onthego.com/company/) | - [Privacy Policy](https://www.people-onthego.com/privacy-policy) | - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.people-onthego.com/terms-and-conditions) © 2021 www.people-onthego.com