too many parentheses, try
=IF(B1=" "," ",LEFT(B1,1)&".")
peg84 wrote:

Something is wrong with my formula below and I am hoping someone can
help me.

=IF(B1=" "," ",((LEFT(B1,1)&".")))

The formula should direct it so that if the cell B1 is blank, then this
cell (C1) should be blank as well. Otherwise, put the 1st letter of B1
and a "." It puts the "." regardless. How do I fix this.

What I am shooting for is to get the last initial if I have the last
name, but to leave blank if I don't.