I found the following on a web site.

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For example, adding 6 months and 10 days to 8/25/97, in A1 with the formula

=DATE(YEAR(A1),MONTH(A1)+6, DAY(A1)+10)

gives 3/7/98.

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I insert the formula and 8/25/97 in a worksheet and sure enough Excel gives me 3/7/98. I understand that Excel adds the months *first* before it adds the days. Evaluate formula confirms this.

However, I get a different result when I break up the above process into two and change the sequence of addition. This is what I have done.

I enter 8/25/97 into A1. Then I enter into B1 this formula

=DATE(YEAR(A1),MONTH(A1),DAY(A1)+10)

Please note that I only add 10 days. The result in B1 is 9/4/1997.

Then in C1, I enter

=DATE(YEAR(B1),MONTH(B1)+6,DAY(B1))

After adding six months, I get 3/4/1998 in C1.

As you will have noted, this result is different from 3/7/98 as stated above. In both Excel processes, I add six months and 10 days to 8/25/97. But the results are so different depending on the sequence of addition. (I do know that if I split the process into two and add months *first* and then days, I'll get 3/7/1998).

If I am not using Excel, I am inclined to add days before I add months as I want to go with the smallest unit first. Is it just me? What is the habit of others? In an office environment, if someone wants to add six months and 10 days, which of the above result is really expected?

Comments welcome.

Epinn