Hi

because the formula evaluates in this order
=COUNTIF(C20,"BL"="BL")
=COUNTIF(C20,TRUE)
=COUNTIF("BLAH",TRUE)
which = 0

if you're doing more than one cell in the range to check the following
should give you what you want
=SUMPRODUCT(--(LEFT(C20:C30,2)="BL"))

Cheers
JulieD

"Thermometer" wrote in message
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I'm trying to do something simple, or at least I thougth I was.
If I have the word BLAH in cell C20 and then in cell D20 I have the
formula =COUNTIF(C20,LEFT(C20,2)="BL")
why is the result 0 (zero) instead of 1 ?
Thanks for any advice.