Problem with multiple IF condition

[jmtchll]

I am trying to create a formula that looks at multiple cells for a text string, "Fatal Error." If that string is present in any of the cells it would replace the contents of the cell with text. If that string isn't present it would do a math calculation on those cells. I was able to make it work but only checking one cell:

=IF(G31="Fatal Error","FATAL ERROR",(G14+G22+G29+G33+G38))

Any ideas how to make this work?

[Ranelagh]

=IF(COUNTIF(31:31,"fatal error")>0,"FATAL ERROR",SUM(G14,G22,G29,G33,G38))

You can change the 31:31 to specific cells if you want.

[jmtchll]

Thank you. That solved my problem!

[jmtchll]

I have a variation that didn't work.

=IF(COUNTIF((G16,G24,G31,G35,G40),"FATAL ERROR")>0,"FATAL ERROR",SUM(G16,U24,U31,G35,G40))

Anytime one of the first set of cells has the text "fatal error" the field displays "#VALUE!" instead of the desired text "FATAL ERROR".