Microsoft KB Archive/51303

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SUMMARY
In Microsoft Excel, a value of 1 will be returned to the =DAY(cell_reference) function if &quot;cell_reference&quot; is a blank cell. This value is returned because a blank cell is equal to 0 (zero) and a zero serial date on the Macintosh is January 1, 1904; therefore, =DAY(0) equals 1.

MORE INFORMATION
This situation can result in the first day of the month appearing equal to a blank cell, as shown in the following example:

=IF(DAY(A1)<>DAY(NOW),&quot;Not Equal&quot;,&quot;Equal&quot;) If A1 is blank, DAY(A1) returns 1. If NOW is the first day of the month, DAY(NOW) returns 1.

&quot;Equal&quot; is returned, even though cell A1 is blank.

To see if A1 is blank, use the following formula:

=IF(A1=&quot;&quot;,&quot;Not Equal&quot;,IF(DAY(A1)<>DAY(NOW),&quot;Not Equal&quot;,&quot;Equal&quot;))
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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994

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