Not Equal To – Meaning, Copy & Paste, LaTeX, Unicode
Complete mathematical reference, typing shortcuts, character entities, and usage guide for the Not Equal To (≠).
Copy Not Equal To Symbol
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What Does the ≠ Symbol Mean?
The not equal sign (≠) is a relational operator stating that two mathematical expressions or quantities have distinct values. It consists of a standard equals sign slashed diagonally, expressing the strict negation of equality.
Real Numeric Examples
7 ≠ 12 7 - 12 = -5 ≠ 0 The integer 7 is not equal to 12; their difference is non-zero, making the statement logically true.
x² ≠ 16 for x = 3 3² = 9; 9 ≠ 16 When substituting x = 3 into x², the evaluated result is 9, which is not equal to 16.
LaTeX, Unicode, HTML & Keyboard Codes for ≠
Copy individual technical codes and character entities with one click:
\neq U+2260 ≠ ≠ Alt+8800 Option + = How to Type ≠ on Every Device and Application
Step-by-step instructions for Windows, Mac, Word, Google Docs, Excel, HTML, LaTeX, and mobile devices:
Windows
Hold Alt and type 8800 on your numeric keypad. In Word, type 2260 and hit Alt + X. Or open Windows Symbol picker with Win + .
Alt+8800 Mac (macOS)
Press Option + = on your keyboard to instantly type ≠ on macOS.
Option + = Microsoft Word
In Word Equation mode (Alt + =), type \neq and press Space. In normal text, type 2260 and press Alt + X.
\neq Google Docs
Go to Insert > Equation, type \neq, and hit Space. Or Insert > Special characters and search 'not equal'.
\neq Excel / Spreadsheets
To display the symbol ≠, enter =UNICHAR(8800). Note that for logical comparison in Excel formulas, use the operator <> (e.g. =A1<>B1).
=UNICHAR(8800) HTML & Web
Use the HTML entity ≠ or decimal code ≠.
≠ LaTeX (Math Mode)
Write \neq or \ne inside math mode ($x \neq y$).
\neq Android & iPhone (iOS)
Long-press the = key on iPhone or Android keyboard to reveal the ≠ symbol, or copy it directly from this page.
≠ Commonly Confused With
Distinguish ≠ from visually similar mathematical glyphs and characters:
Approximately Equal To
vs ≠The not equal symbol (≠) asserts that two values are strictly not identical, whereas approximately equal (≈) indicates that two values are close in magnitude.
View ≈ Approximately Equal To PageNot Identical To
vs ≠The not identical symbol (≢, U+2262) negates identity or modular congruence (three bars slashed), while ≠ negates standard numerical equality (two bars slashed).
Explore in comparison symbolsProgramming Not Equal
vs ≠In spreadsheet formulas (Excel/SQL) and coding languages like Python (!=), ASCII digraphs are used instead of the typographic Unicode glyph ≠.
View <> Programming Not Equal PageFrequently Asked Questions About ≠
Answers to common questions about typing, meaning, and syntax for ≠:
How do you type the not equal sign ≠ on a Mac?
On Mac, press Option + = simultaneously. This native shortcut types ≠ into any document or text input.
How do you type ≠ on iPhone and Android?
On iOS and Android keyboards, switch to numbers/symbols (?123), then press and hold the '=' key. A pop-up menu will appear allowing you to select ≠.
What is the difference between ≠ and != or <>?
≠ is the standard mathematical typographic symbol (Unicode U+2260). In programming and database systems (like Python, JavaScript, SQL, and Excel formulas), != or <> are used because ASCII keyboards lack a dedicated ≠ key.
What is the LaTeX code for not equal?
In LaTeX math mode, write \neq or \ne (e.g., $a \neq b$).
How do you write not equal in Excel formulas?
For logic inside formulas, use the <> comparison operator (e.g., =IF(A1<>B1, 'Different', 'Same')). To display the literal symbol ≠ as text in a cell, use =UNICHAR(8800).