It kind of depends upon how your SUMIF() formula is set up. If it is set up
to get the criteria from a cell [ like =SUMIF(A2:A9,$D$2,B2:B9)] rather than
having the criteria coded into the formula [ like =SUMIF(A2:A9,"G",B2:B9)]
then it can be done.

Assume a table like I used in my example formulas: the IF range is in A2:A9
with the numbers to be SUMmed in B2:B9 and cell D2 is where we can type in
the 'criteria' value for the SUMIF() formula to use.

Then you can select the values in column B and use Conditional Format and
use the "Formual Is" setting and set up this formula:
=$A2<$D$2 and set the font color to red in that situation. Notice that I
removed the $ that Excel probably put between the A and the 2 in the formula
(it tried to write it as =$A$2<$D$2 initially) before committing the formula
with the [OK] button.

Hope this helps you with the problem.

"Mel" wrote:

Using the SUMIF function, i would like answers returned that are < to be in
red font, and when the answer is = (ie the correct answer), for it to be in
black font.

is there a way of conditional font formatting?

Thanks in advance.

Mel