Function taz(x)
Dim i As Long
i = InStr(x, "--")
taz = Trim(Left(x, i - 1))
End Function

assume A1 contains USA--
in B1 put in =taz(A1)

then drag fill down the column.

Or you can select column A and do

Edit=Replace
What --
With leave blank
click replace all.

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy


"teresa" wrote in message
...
Hi, I have a list as follows:

USA--
UK--
JAPAN--

I need to define a function which will return
USA
UK
JAPAN

I have tried the following but I think it needs some tweaking - thks for
help

Function taz(x)

Dim i As Long
i = InStr(x, "--")
char = Trim(Left(cell, i - 1))

End Function