The CHOOSE function with example in Excel

The CHOOSE function in Excel returns a value from a list of values based on a given index number. This function can be very handy when you want to select from a fixed list of options.

Syntax

excel
CHOOSE(index_num, value1, [value2], ...)

• index_num: Specifies which value to return. It must be a number between 1 and 254.
• value1, value2, ...: The list of values from which to choose. You can provide up to 254 values.

Example

Suppose you want to select a day of the week based on a number from 1 to 7.

1. Basic Usage:
   • Formula: =CHOOSE(3, "Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday")
   • Result: Tuesday
2. Dynamic Index:
   • If you want to dynamically choose a value based on a cell reference:
   • Suppose cell A1 contains the number 5.
   • Formula: =CHOOSE(A1, "Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday")
   • Result: Thursday

Practical Example

Imagine you have a table where you want to assign a grade based on a numeric score:

1. Enter the score in cell A1, for example, 2.

2. Use the CHOOSE function to return the corresponding grade:

   • Formula: =CHOOSE(A1, "F", "D", "C", "B", "A")
   • Result: D

Step-by-Step Example

1. In cell A1, enter the number 4.
2. In cell B1, enter the following formula:

   excel
   =CHOOSE(A1, "Red", "Green", "Blue", "Yellow", "Purple")
   

3. The result in cell B1 will be Yellow, because Yellow is the fourth item in the list.

Example with a List of Months

If you want to use the CHOOSE function to display a month name based on a number from 1 to 12:

1. In cell A1, enter the number 7.
2. In cell B1, enter the formula:

   excel
   =CHOOSE(A1, "January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August", "September", "October", "November", "December")
   

3. The result in cell B1 will be July.

These examples demonstrate how the CHOOSE function can be used to return specific values based on an index number, allowing for flexible and dynamic content selection in your Excel sheets.