How would XL know they are the same person???

If you're really only wanting to compare first and last names...
=AND(LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)-1)=LEFT(B1,FIND(" ",B1)-1),
MID(A1,FIND(" ",A1)+1,999)=MID(B1,FIND("xxx",SUBSTITUTE(B1,"
","xxx",LEN(B1)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(B1," ",""))))+1,999))

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Best Regards,

Luke M
"pierre" wrote in message
...
hi all
i have a list of data in column A and B... i.e
A1 : pete rose B1 : pete sam rose (they are the same person)
A2 : amber kerr B2 : amber dawn saly kerr (they are the same person)

i am comparing these two by using =exact(..) , but the result is false
although its true. any suggestions ?