Using "Other" and "None of the Above" Answer Options¶

A fixed list of answer options can't anticipate everything a respondent might want to say, and it can't always offer a clean way to reject every option at once. Two special answer options solve these specific problems, available on single-select (SE) and multi-select (MCQ) questions.

"Other": Capturing the Answer You Didn't Anticipate¶

Adding an "Other" option to a single-select or multi-select question automatically triggers a dependent open-ended field - if a respondent selects "Other," a free-text box appears for them to specify what they mean. You don't need to build this text field yourself; it's generated automatically the moment "Other" is added as an option.

This is the practical middle ground between a fully closed-ended question (which risks missing real answers) and a fully open-ended one (which loses the speed and analyzability of predefined options) - most respondents pick from your list, and the ones who don't still give you something usable.

"None of the Above": A Clean Way to Opt Out¶

"None of the above" must be configured as Exclusive, meaning selecting it automatically deselects every other option the respondent may have already chosen. This matters specifically for multi-select questions, where without the Exclusive setting, a respondent could technically select "None of the above" alongside other options - a logically contradictory response that Exclusive configuration prevents from happening in the first place.

Setting Both Up¶

From your question's answer options in the builder, add "Other" or "None of the above" the same way you'd add any other option - the automatic OE field (for "Other") and the Exclusive behavior (for "None of the above") are handled without further configuration once the option itself is added.

Analyzing "Other" Responses¶

Since "Other" generates a genuine open-ended field, its responses can be run through Text Analytics the same as any standalone open-ended question - see How Text Analytics Works: From Open-Ends to Categories. This is a useful way to spot a theme that should have been its own answer option from the start, informing how you design similar questions in future surveys.

FAQ¶

Can I add "Other" to a question that already has many answer options?
Yes - there's no limit tied to how many other options exist before adding "Other."

What happens if a respondent selects "Other" but leaves the text field blank?
Check your question's validation settings for whether the "Other" text field is required once selected.

Can "None of the above" be used on a single-select question, not just multi-select?
The Exclusive behavior is most meaningful on multi-select, where more than one option could otherwise be selected at once - check your question type's available settings for single-select specifics.

Does "Other" count as its own answer option in Reporting charts?
Yes - "Other" appears as its own answer option in standard results, with its associated open-ended responses available separately through Text Analytics.

Can I have both "Other" and "None of the above" on the same question?
Yes - the two solve different problems and can coexist on the same question's answer list.

For the fuller question type picture, see How to Build a Good Survey: A Practical Guide to Question Types, Structure, and Design.