A cell-by-cell review list of suspected total-formula errors with proposed corrections, applying no live edits.
Choose one of three approaches. The steps for that option appear below.
Choose an option above. On a phone, swipe the tabs left or right to see all options →
ChatGPT: lists suspected formula errors, you check
ChatGPT checks each total formula against your row map and proposes corrections. You check every flag against the real sheet.
You
Copy the extract
ChatGPT
List suspected errors
You
Check flags and save
Copy the formulas into an extract
Use:You
Have ready: the spreadsheet. Copy each total cell's formula and ranges into an extract; map line items, subtotals and intended rows (not stated if unclear), plus referenced helper formulas for tracing double counting.
Check
Copy each formula character for character. Keep row numbers accurate; the whole point is which rows are in each range.
List suspected errors in each formula
Use:ChatGPT
Ask ChatGPT to check every total formula against the row map and list each suspected skipped row or doubled cell with a proposed correction.
Details
What to paste into the tool
Task: Review the spreadsheet formulas in the extract below. For each total or summary cell: quote its formula, state the range it covers, and check that range against the row map and my explicit intended rows. Trace nested subtotal/helper references if supplied; do not infer business intent or assume a row belongs in a total. When intention or helper formulas are missing, mark the check 'not stated'. Flag any range that appears to skip a row that should be included, include a row that should not be there, or add a cell twice. For each flag, propose the corrected formula for my review; do not present any correction as final. Check only formulas and ranges; no comments on the money. Write 'not stated' where the extract does not show something you need. Inputs: [upload the extract file, or paste the extract with formulas and the row map into the chat]. Task: Turn my confirmed review decisions into a tidy cell-by-cell list. For every reviewed total cell, including those with no suspected fault: the current formula/range, my decision or no issue identified, and any correction I accepted, marked 'for me to apply'. Apply only my decisions; do not add new flags or changes. Inputs: [upload or paste your confirmed decisions list].
Check each flag and save the list
Use:You
Check each suspected error and proposed correction against the real sheet; ask for a tidy final list in the same chat, then recheck and save.
Check
Open the real sheet and look at each flagged cell; a flag is suspicion, not fact, a proposal a draft, not a fix. Check each proposed formula covers the intended rows. Any later live edit and resulting-total check happen personally, outside this review workflow. The assistant never touches the live sheet.
Claude: checks the extract cell by cell, you decide
Claude reviews the extract cell by cell and proposes corrections. You check each flag and make every choice.
You
List formulas and rows
Claude
Review cell by cell
You
Check flags and save
List each formula and its rows
Use:You
Have ready: the spreadsheet. List each total formula's text and the rows it should cover in an extract; never edit the live sheet.
Check
Formula text copied exactly; row intentions written from the real sheet.
List suspected errors cell by cell
Use:Claude
Ask Claude to review the extract cell by cell and list suspected errors with proposed corrections.
Details
What to paste into the tool
Task: Review this spreadsheet extract cell by cell. For each total or summary formula visible, give one line: the cell, the range it uses, and either no issue or a suspected error - a range that skips rows or includes a cell twice - with a proposed corrected formula for my review. Use only what is visible in the extract; where the extract does not show something needed, mark that line as incomplete rather than guessing cell contents. No live edits and no comments on the money itself; every correction is only a proposal. Extract: [paste the extract with the formulas visible].
Check each flag against the real sheet
Use:You
Check each flag against the real sheet, decide, and save the list with proposed corrections; apply any edit yourself later.
Check
Verify each suspected error and proposal against the actual rows before accepting. Any later edit is yours; the assistant never touches the live sheet. Take out names, payees, account details and any figures you do not need to share;
Gemini: checks the extract cell by cell, you finalise
Gemini reviews the extract cell by cell and proposes corrections. You check each flag and finalise the list.
You
Build the extract
Gemini
List suspected errors
You
Check and finalise
Build the extract with the row map
Use:You
Have ready: the spreadsheet. Build an extract with the formulas and a row map of the rows each total should cover.
Check
Compare the extract against the real sheet: formulas copied exactly.
List suspected errors cell by cell
Use:Gemini
Ask Gemini to review the extract cell by cell and propose a correction for each suspected error.
Details
What to paste into the tool
Task: Review this spreadsheet extract cell by cell. For each total or summary formula, list the range it uses. Mark suspected errors: ranges that skip rows or include a cell twice, and propose a correction for each. Flag any total formula that looks unreviewed. Do not comment on the money. Where the extract does not show something, say so instead of guessing. Inputs: [paste the extract].
Check each flag and finalise the list
Use:You
Check each suspected error and proposed correction against the real sheet; accept only what you confirmed there; corrections stay proposals.
Check
Check every accepted correction against the real sheet. Any later personal live edit and resulting-total check happen personally, outside this review. No live edits; the assistant never touches the live sheet.
Compare the three approaches
Option A: ChatGPT: lists suspected formula errors, you check
Best when: You want a full formula-by-formula first pass; decisions stay with you
What it does: ChatGPT reviews each formula and proposes corrections; you check
Strong at: Writes the first full review list, so you type less
Limit: Not confirmed to follow your not-stated rules; check each flag
Free plan: Yes, limited (renewable but limited free tier)
Option B: Claude: checks the extract cell by cell, you decide
Best when: You want Claude's cell-by-cell review; you only check its flags
What it does: Claude reviews cell by cell; you check flags and decide
Strong at: Reviews each formula cell by cell and proposes corrections
Limit: Error-spotting quality not shown; check each flag yourself
Free plan: Yes, limited (usage limit resets every five hours)
Option C: Gemini: checks the extract cell by cell, you finalise
Best when: You want the full review pass done, then check flags yourself
What it does: Gemini reviews and proposes; you check and finalise
Strong at: Does the full pass and proposes corrections
Limit: Formula review not covered on its page; check every flag
Free plan: Yes, limited
Before you paste into any AI tool, remove any confidential information. Put it back at the end.
Check the formula notation in your spreadsheet software; mark missing or unchecked details not stated. Steps marked Human are yours to do. Human with an assistant means you give the assistant the stated inputs and check its output before using it.
Nothing is sent, signed, paid or published by an assistant.
A human check follows every assistant step and the last step is human.
Check the result against your original inputs. Approve it before sharing or acting.
Availability notes
Tool pages were read signed out on 2026-10-28. Plan, price and free-limit details were not re-checked and are not claimed.
What still needs checking
Whether any assistant named here does the arithmetic or rule-following in this scenario correctly: no page evidence, so you check cover it.
Which plan each quoted capability needs.
You decide any open choices named in the scenario itself; none were guessed.