MODE for strings in range (not array)

[EducationWarrior]

I would like to determine the most frequent occurrence of a string within a range (not just a column). If all strings are within a column, I can use =INDEX(array,MATCH(MAX(COUNTIF(array,array)),COUNTIF(array,array),0)), but this does not work when the data is distributed across a range with n columns and m rows. Any ideas on how to do that without having to rearrange everything into a column (or row)?

 

[DonkeyOte]

No doubt far better methods but one possibility:

Excel Workbook
	A	B	C	D	E
1	apples	apples	bananas		dogs
2	bananas	cars	bananas
3	bananas	apples	cars
4	dogs	dogs	bananas
5	dogs	cars	dogs
6	dogs	dogs	bananas
7	apples	cars	cars
8	bananas	dogs	apples
9	apples	dogs	cars
10	cars	cars	dogs
Sheet4

edit: reloaded screenshot (MODE should be MAX)

 

[EducationWarrior]

THANK YOU! Amazingly logical once you go through your formula.