=COUNTIF($A$1:$A$1000,D1)-SUMPRODUCT(--($A$1:$A$999=D1),--($A$1:$A$999<$A$2
:$A$1000),--($A$2:$A$1000=$A$3:$A$1001))

where D1 holds the letter to test

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)


"Trapper via OfficeKB.com" wrote in message
...
I have a simple need: I have one column of data containing either an O or
a U. Is there a way I can ask EXCEL to tell me how many times the O
appeared in 2 consecutive cells, 3 consecutive cells... etc. Say I am
using collumn A for this
A
1 O
2 O
3 O
4 U
5 U
6 O
7 U
8 U
9 U
10 U