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One way to use a Google Sheets function to tally answers from several different columns that share the same header is to use the SUMIF function.

Here are the steps to use SUMIF:

  1. Select a cell where you want to display the tally result.
  2. Type the equal sign followed by the SUMIF function.
  3. For the range argument, select all the columns that share the same header. To do this, click and drag the cursor from the first column to the last column while holding down the "Ctrl" key on a PC or "Command" key on a Mac.
  4. For the criteria argument, type the header name that you want to tally in double quotation marks.
  5. Press Enter to complete the function. The tally result will be displayed in the selected cell.

For example, if you have three columns labeled "Fruit" and you want to tally how many apples, oranges, and bananas you have, you can follow these steps:

  1. Select a cell where you want to display the tally result, such as cell A1.
  2. Type the equal sign followed by the SUMIF function: =SUMIF(
  3. For the range argument, select all three "Fruit" columns by clicking and dragging from column B to D while holding down "Ctrl" or "Command".
  4. For the criteria argument, type "Apple" in double quotation marks: "Apple"
  5. Press Enter to complete the function. The tally result for how many apples you have will be displayed in cell A1.

Repeat the process for other fruits, typing the respective fruit name in the criteria argument to tally how many of each you have.