If you don't want to fix those entries so that they're real numbers try
this:

=SUMPRODUCT(VALUE(A1:A3))

If you want the result to display a + sign when it's a positive result use
the custom format Fred suggested in his reply.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


".Net Sports" wrote in message
...
I have a column of numbers that i need to have a positive or negative
indicator to add up with the AutoSum function,

+3
-3.5
+10

...but can't get the autosum function on the row below to
calculate...i get an empty " =sum( ) " display; what is the correct
way to format these numbers so i can get the total of +9.5 with this
column