diff --git a/matlab/isaletter.m b/matlab/isaletter.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f5c183f02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/isaletter.m
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+function info = isaletter(str)
+% Returns 1 if the string str has at least one letter, 0 otherwise.
+
+% Copyright (C) 2013 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+info = any(islatter(str));
\ No newline at end of file