Word will look to as many cells immediately to the left as contain numbers,
so ..

1 2 3 4 average = 2.5 (=(1+2+3+4)/4)
n/a 2 3 4 average = 3 (=(2+3+4)/3)
1 n/a 3 4 average = 3.5 (=3+4)/2)

Also you must be sure that the field is updated. You can set fields to
automatically update on printing which ensures prints are correct but to be
sure the screen-displayed document is correct, select the field(s) (or the
whole document with Ctrl+a) and press F9.

--
Enjoy,
Tony


"Deb" wrote in message
...
I set up a formula within a Word table "=AVERAGE(LEFT)" on a school pupil
report to help staff to quickly complete an average score. In most cases
the
boxes to the left contain a figure, sometimes a box may contain "n/a"
where a
grade is not applicable. Sometimes this formula seems to work, but others
it
does not and I am unable to establish any logical pattern.

Does anyone have any clues to what is wrong?