Have you considered using a Pivot Table?

First, make sure your list has a column heading. I'll assume FRUIT.

Then...
<Data<Pivot Table
Use: Excel
Select your data
Click the [Layout] button

ROW: Drag the FRUIT field here
DATA: Drag the FRUIT field here
If it doesn't list as Count of FRUIT...dbl-click it and set it to Count
Click [OK]
Select where you want the Pivot Table...and you're done!

That will list each Fruit and the count of each instance.

Does that help?
***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP


"SydnTex" wrote:


I am trying, with no luck to find a formula will sum the amount of times
unique data is in a list, eg range b2:b6 contains

apple
pear
pear
house
apple

Given data is unique cannot check it against a table but would like to
count number of times each instance appears

apple 2
pear 2
house 1

Can this be done without looking up a dataset.

Thanks

SydnTex


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