Establishing most common word in an Excel column

[Brymor]

Using Office 2003.
In my weatherstation data, [very long listings over 12 months x 4 readings
per day ], the wind's direction changes are listed as:-
NORTH, NE,SE,SE,EAST,ENE,WSW,SOUTH,SE,EAST, NW, WNW, and so on.
I would like to find a formula that will tell me the most prolific word in
the column list.
I hope that someone can help me here.
Thanks and kind regards,

Brymor

 

[Gary''s Student]

Can there be moe than one word in a single cell?

 

[T. Valko]

With your data in the range A2:A13, this array formula** returns SE as the
most frequent TEXT entry:

=INDEX(A2:A13,MODE(MATCH(A2:A13,A2:A13,0)))

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER). Hold down both the CTRL key and the SHIFT
key then hit ENTER.

Note that if there are an equal number of entries for more than one
direction the formula will return the direction that appears first from top
to bottom. For example:

NE
NE
SW
SW
SSW

The formula result will be NE. Both NE and SW appear the most often but NE
appears first in the list.

 

[JP]

In addition to what Biff suggested, perhaps a Pivot Table would also
produce what you need?

http://www.contextures.com/xlPivot05.html#TopItems

--JP

 

[Anand]

Using Office 2003.
In my weatherstation data, [very long listings  over 12 months x 4 readings
per day ],  the wind's direction changes are listed as:-
NORTH, NE,SE,SE,EAST,ENE,WSW,SOUTH,SE,EAST, NW, WNW, and so on.
I would like to find a formula that will tell me the most prolific word in
the column list.
I hope that someone can help me here.
Thanks and kind regards,

Brymor

You can also use Countif. Assuming your data is in Column A rows 1 to
24000 then in column B if you enter =COUNTIF($B$2:$B$24000, B2) and
drag it through the column the number of instances a particular value
repeats would be listed you can then choose for the largest number to
see which direction the wind was most of the times.

Hope that helps,
Anand
9910548139

 

[Brymor]

Gary, tks for your response.
There are only random repeats of the sixteen different compas points, form
NORTH around to NNW. So, each abbreviation can be classed as one word in each
cell
--
Thanks and kind regards,
Brymor

Can there be moe than one word in a single cell?
--
Gary''s Student - gsnu201001

Using Office 2003.
In my weatherstation data, [very long listings over 12 months x 4 readings
per day ], the wind's direction changes are listed as:-
NORTH, NE,SE,SE,EAST,ENE,WSW,SOUTH,SE,EAST, NW, WNW, and so on.
I would like to find a formula that will tell me the most prolific word in
the column list.
I hope that someone can help me here.
Thanks and kind regards,

Brymor

 

[Ashish Mathur]

Hi,

Assume that your data in in range A2:A20000 (the heading is in A2). In B3,
type =countif(A$3:A20000,A3) and copy till B20000. In B2, type condition.
In E2, type condition and in E3, type =max(B3:B20000)

Select cell G2 and go to Data > Advanced Filter > Copy to another location.
In list range, select A2:B20000. In criteria range, select E2:E3. In Copy,
select G2. Check the box for unique records only. Click on OK

This should get you the desired result.

Please note that if the data changed, you will have to rerun the advanced
filter.

--
Regards,

Ashish Mathur
Microsoft Excel MVP
www.ashishmathur.com

 

[Brymor]

Many thanks Biff, works a treat!
Just copied / pasted your formula into cell, changed the range details and
BINGO, I got what I wanted.
--
Thanks and kind regards,
Brymor

With your data in the range A2:A13, this array formula** returns SE as the
most frequent TEXT entry:

=INDEX(A2:A13,MODE(MATCH(A2:A13,A2:A13,0)))

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER). Hold down both the CTRL key and the SHIFT
key then hit ENTER.

Note that if there are an equal number of entries for more than one
direction the formula will return the direction that appears first from top
to bottom. For example:

NE
NE
SW
SW
SSW

The formula result will be NE. Both NE and SW appear the most often but NE
appears first in the list.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

Using Office 2003.
In my weatherstation data, [very long listings over 12 months x 4
readings
per day ], the wind's direction changes are listed as:-
NORTH, NE,SE,SE,EAST,ENE,WSW,SOUTH,SE,EAST, NW, WNW, and so on.
I would like to find a formula that will tell me the most prolific word in
the column list.
I hope that someone can help me here.
Thanks and kind regards,

Brymor

.

 

[Brymor]

Thanks JP,
Biff's suggestion worked OK, but will also try your suggestion, once I've
learnt about Pivot tables.
Wish me Luck!
--
Thanks and kind regards,
Brymor

In addition to what Biff suggested, perhaps a Pivot Table would also
produce what you need?

http://www.contextures.com/xlPivot05.html#TopItems

--JP

Using Office 2003.
In my weatherstation data, [very long listings over 12 months x 4 readings
per day ], the wind's direction changes are listed as:-
NORTH, NE,SE,SE,EAST,ENE,WSW,SOUTH,SE,EAST, NW, WNW, and so on.
I would like to find a formula that will tell me the most prolific word in
the column list.
I hope that someone can help me here.
Thanks and kind regards,

Brymor

.

 

[T. Valko]

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback!

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

Many thanks Biff, works a treat!
Just copied / pasted your formula into cell, changed the range details and
BINGO, I got what I wanted.
--
Thanks and kind regards,
Brymor

With your data in the range A2:A13, this array formula** returns SE as
the
most frequent TEXT entry:

=INDEX(A2:A13,MODE(MATCH(A2:A13,A2:A13,0)))

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER). Hold down both the CTRL key and the
SHIFT
key then hit ENTER.

Note that if there are an equal number of entries for more than one
direction the formula will return the direction that appears first from
top
to bottom. For example:

NE
NE
SW
SW
SSW

The formula result will be NE. Both NE and SW appear the most often but
NE
appears first in the list.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

Using Office 2003.
In my weatherstation data, [very long listings over 12 months x 4
readings
per day ], the wind's direction changes are listed as:-
NORTH, NE,SE,SE,EAST,ENE,WSW,SOUTH,SE,EAST, NW, WNW, and so on.
I would like to find a formula that will tell me the most prolific word
in
the column list.
I hope that someone can help me here.
Thanks and kind regards,

Brymor

.

 

[JP]

Good luck to you!

--JP