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Write a Formula From a Plain-English Description
Prompt
App and version: {{SPREADSHEET_APP}}
What the formula must do: {{GOAL_IN_PLAIN_ENGLISH}}
Column headers and three sample rows (dummy or anonymised): {{SHEET_STRUCTURE}}
Cell where the formula will live: {{TARGET_CELL}}
Write one formula. Rules:
- Use only functions available in my stated version. If the best function is newer, give it and also a fallback for older versions.
- Use my real column letters and header names. If my structure is ambiguous, ask me up to three questions before writing anything.
- State every assumption you made (blank cells, text stored as numbers, duplicates, upper or lower case).
- Prefer clear over clever. Don't nest more than three levels without saying why.
Output: (1) the formula in a code block, (2) two sentences on how it evaluates, (3) a test: the result I should see for each of my sample rows, (4) one edge case that would break it and how to guard against it.
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About this prompt
“Write a Formula From a Plain-English Description” is a free prompt for ChatGPT in the Productivity category, 167 words long, added to The Prompt Index on October 28, 2026 by The Prompt Index. Copy it with the button above, paste it into ChatGPT or any other AI chat assistant, and send it.
It has 4 placeholders to fill in first:
{{SPREADSHEET_APP}}, {{GOAL_IN_PLAIN_ENGLISH}}, {{SHEET_STRUCTURE}}, {{TARGET_CELL}}.
Use the “Customize this prompt” fields to personalise it before you copy.
Recommended models: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini.
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