**Maybe** something like this:

=COUNTIF(A1:A10,"*A*")

That will count any cell that contains an A anywhere in the cell.

If you use a cell reference:

B1 = A

=COUNTIF(A1:A10,"*"&B1&"*")

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"terryc" wrote in message
...
I'm using 1 column. It will contain A, B, C, D, etc. My countif works
great
when I count A's, B's etc. But there are times there is an AB or A B in
the
cell. It neither counts the A or the B. Any suggestions. I see some
solutions
of countif were pivot tables. If that's my solution, I'll need beginner
help.
Thanks to all.