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Not Equal Sign – How to Type the Does Not Equal Symbol

Author image

Mayank Jain

Software Developer

Published on Thu Feb 15 2024

The not equal sign, often represented as ≠, is a fundamental mathematical symbol indicating inequality between two values. Typing this symbol varies depending on the platform and device you're using. Let's explore how to easily input the not equal sign on your computer or smartphone keypad.

How to Write the Not Equal Sign on Desktop Devices

On Windows: Use the Character Map

To type the not equal sign on Windows, you can utilize the Character Map application. This tool allows you to browse and select various characters, including mathematical symbols like the not equal sign.

  1. Press the Windows key and type "Character Map" in the search bar.
  2. Open the Character Map application from the search results.
  3. In the Character Map window, locate the not equal sign (≠) by scrolling or typing "not equal" in the search box.
  4. Click on the not equal sign to select it.
  5. Copy the selected symbol by clicking the "Copy" button.
  6. Paste the symbol (≠) into your desired document or application.

Using the Character Map provides an efficient way to access and input the not equal sign in your Windows environment.

Not Equal Sign Keyboard Shortcut On Mac

Typing the not equal sign on a Mac can be easily accomplished using a keyboard shortcut. This method saves time and effort when working with mathematical expressions or programming languages that require the not equal sign.

  1. To type the not equal sign (≠) on a Mac, hold down the Option key.
  2. While holding the Option key, press the = key on your keyboard.
  3. Release both keys, and the not equal sign (≠) will appear in your document or text input field.

This keyboard shortcut provides a convenient way to insert the not equal sign without having to navigate through character maps or special characters menus.

How to Write the Not Equal Sign in Microsoft Office Suite

In the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, there are multiple methods to input the not equal sign (≠) efficiently.

Use the Insert Symbol Tool

  1. In Microsoft Office applications, navigate to the "Insert" tab in the toolbar.
  2. Click on "Symbol" or "Insert Symbol" in the ribbon.
  3. A dropdown menu will appear. Select "More Symbols."
  4. In the Symbol dialog box, locate the not equal sign (≠) and click "Insert."

This method allows you to easily access and insert the not equal sign from within the Microsoft Office Suite.

Use a Keyboard Shortcut

  1. For a quick method to type the not equal sign (≠) in Microsoft Office Suite, utilize a keyboard shortcut.
  2. Press and hold down the Alt key.
  3. While holding Alt, type the code "8800" on the numeric keypad.
  4. Release the Alt key, and the not equal sign (≠) will appear.

Using this keyboard shortcut provides a swift way to input the not equal sign without interrupting your workflow.

Microsoft Word Only Keyboard Shortcut

For users specifically working in Microsoft Word, there's an additional keyboard shortcut to type the not equal sign.

  1. In Microsoft Word, press and hold down the Ctrl key.
  2. While holding Ctrl, press the + key on the numeric keypad.
  3. Release both keys, and then type the sequence "2260" on the numeric keypad.
  4. Release all keys, and the not equal sign (≠) will be inserted into your Word document.

This shortcut is exclusive to Microsoft Word and offers another convenient way to type the not equal sign directly into your document.

How to Type the Not Equal Sign On Mobile

Typing the not equal sign (≠) on mobile devices can be accomplished using various methods depending on the operating system and keyboard app.

Using the Default Keyboard

  1. Open the app where you want to type the not equal sign.
  2. Access the symbols or special characters menu on your keyboard.
  3. Navigate to the section containing mathematical symbols.
  4. Look for the not equal sign (≠) and tap on it to insert it into your text.

Using Third-Party Keyboard Apps

  1. Install a third-party keyboard app from your device's app store.
  2. Follow the app's instructions to set it as your default keyboard.
  3. Open the app where you want to type the not equal sign.
  4. Access the keyboard and look for the mathematical symbols section or use the app's search feature to find the not equal sign (≠).

By utilizing the default keyboard or third-party apps, you can easily input the not equal sign on your mobile device for various applications and purposes.

How to Write the Not Equal Sign in HTML

In HTML, the not equal sign (≠) can be represented using an entity reference or a numeric character reference.

Using Entity Reference

To write the not equal sign using an entity reference, you can use the following HTML code:

≠

This code will render the not equal sign (≠) in the web browser.

Using Numeric Character Reference

Alternatively, you can use the numeric character reference for the not equal sign:

This numeric code corresponds to the Unicode value of the not equal sign (≠) and will display it correctly in HTML documents.

By incorporating these HTML codes, you can easily include the not equal sign in your web pages and ensure proper rendering across different browsers and devices.

Mastering the not equal sign (≠) is essential for expressing inequality in mathematics and programming. Knowing how to type this symbol efficiently across different platforms and applications streamlines your workflow. Whether you're working on a computer, mobile device, or HTML document, various methods exist to input the not equal sign accurately. Let's explore simple techniques to type the not equal sign on different platforms, enhancing your productivity and ensuring precision in your work.

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