Excel formula prompt

What most people type

excel formula to sum column C only when column A says 'Paid'

It works, but the AI has to guess your first row and last row, so the first answer usually needs another round. The version below asks for exactly what a professional would deliver.

Give me an Excel formula that sums column C only for rows where column A says "Paid". Use a range of [first row] to [last row], and show whether it should be case-insensitive or exact. Add one or two lines explaining how it works, plus a variant that uses whole-column references.

Replace the [brackets] with your details before you send it: first row, last row.

Why this version works

• Made the request a direct instruction. Clear task up front
• Added row range placeholders. Formula needs actual ranges
• Asked for brief explanation only. Quick how-to stays short
• Added whole-column variant. Covers growing data without a follow-up

What a professional excel formula prompt covers

• Asks for the formula with a short explanation
• Short

Best AI model for this prompt

This is a light task: simple SUMIF formula; small model gets it right almost always. You don't need the most expensive model. The cheapest model at each company that handles it well:

Pay-per-use list prices for this prompt and its expected answer (about 150 tokens). On a monthly chat plan, the same choice shows up as more messages before you hit your limit. See today's AI prices.