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Excel IF function examples are useful only when the condition and both outcomes have clear meaning. IF chooses between results based on a logical test; it does not decide the business rule for you. Define the threshold, boundary and handling of incomplete data before combining several tests into a difficult formula.
Write the rule before the formula
State the condition in ordinary language. For example, a synthetic review rule might require a quantity of at least ten. =IF(B2>=10,"Review","Standard") implements that condition. Confirm whether the boundary is inclusive and whether B2 contains a valid numeric value. Do not let an arbitrary formula establish a price or policy that nobody approved.
Combine conditions with explicit logic
AND requires its relevant conditions to be true; OR tests whether at least one is true. A formula such as =IF(AND(B2>=10,C2="Ready"),"Review","Wait") combines two documented conditions. Keep text values consistent and check the local formula syntax. Nested IF statements need especially clear ordering when several outcomes are possible.
Test boundaries and incomplete inputs
Check values below, at and above the threshold, plus missing or unexpected text. A formula can return a result while still reflecting an unintended assumption. Decide how incomplete records should be flagged rather than silently classifying them as ordinary cases. Preserve error evidence when a source or formula needs repair.
A practical checklist
- Define the rule and inclusive boundary.
- Choose meaningful true and false outcomes.
- Use AND or OR according to the actual requirement.
- Test boundaries, blanks and unexpected types.
- Document exceptions rather than hiding incomplete data.
Worked example
Illustrative example: B2 contains 12 and C2 contains Ready. The combined test returns Review. With a quantity of eight, it returns Wait even when C2 is Ready. With missing information, the workbook follows a separately documented incomplete-data rule. These are synthetic test cases, not judgments about real customer records.
Common questions
Does IF validate every input automatically? No. Are AND and OR interchangeable? No. Is a longer nested formula necessarily better? No; clarity, maintainability and correct test coverage matter more.
What to do next
Keep the written rule alongside representative test cases. A colleague should be able to explain the formula’s outcome without reverse-engineering an unexplained chain of conditions.