Insert a Does Not Equal or Not Equal To Sign or Symbol in Microsoft Word Documents

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated April 30, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 (Windows)

You can insert the does not equal sign (not equal to sign) in a Word document using Insert Symbol, a keyboard shortcut, an AutoCorrect entry or an Alt shortcut.

Recommended article: How to Check Word Count in Microsoft Word (4 Ways)

Do you want to learn more about Microsoft Word? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom Word courses >

In this article, we'll look at 5 ways to insert a not equal to sign in a Word document:

  1. Use the Insert Symbol command
  2. Add and use a keyboard shortcut
  3. Add and use an AutoCorrect entry (or use an existing entry)
  4. Press Alt and then enter a number sequence
  5. Insert the symbol in an equation using Equation tools

Note: We are using a US keyboard layout but the strategies and shortcuts apply to English Canada keyboards. Keyboard shortcuts may work differently depending on your keyboard layout / language.

Do you want to learn more about Word? Check out our virtual classroom or in-person Word courses >

1. Insert a not equal to sign using Insert Symbol

If you want to insert the does not equal sign (not equal to sign), you can use Insert Symbol.

To insert the not equal to sign using Insert Symbol in the Ribbon in Word:

  1. Position the cursor in the Word document where you want to insert a not equal to symbol.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
  5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
  6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu.
  7. Select Mathematical Operators from the Subset drop-down menu.
  8. Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the not equal to sign (≠) and then click it.
  9. Click Insert.
  10. Click Close.

The Insert Symbol dialog box appears as follows (with ≠ selected):

2. Insert a not equal to sign using a custom keyboard shortcut

If you insert the not equal to sign frequently, you can create your own keyboard shortcut for the symbol in Word.

To create a keyboard shortcut for the not equal to sign:

  1. Position the cursor in a Word document.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
  5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
  6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu.
  7. Select Mathematical Operators from the Subset drop-down menu.
  8. Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the not equal to sign (≠) and then click it.
  9. Click Shortcut. A dialog box appears.
  10. Click in the box below Assign New Shortcut key.
  11. Press the keys you want to assign (such as Ctrl + Alt + N). Don't type any text, just press the keys. Be careful not to override a useful built-in shortcut such as Ctrl + N.
  12. Click Assign. Typically the location for these shortcuts is the Normal (or default) template.
  13. Click Close twice.
  14. Test the shortcut in your document by pressing the assigned keys.

The Customize Keyboard dialog box appears as follows:

Assign shortcuts dialog box in Word to assign a shortcut to not equal sign in Word.

Since these shortcuts are typically saved in the Normal template, when you exit Word, if you are prompted to save the Normal template, click Yes.

3. Insert a not equal to sign using AutoCorrect

You can also insert the not equal to sign automatically using AutoCorrect.

To set up an AutoCorrect entry for the not equal to sign:

  1. Position the cursor in a Word document.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
  5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
  6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu.
  7. Select Mathematical Operators from the Subset drop-down menu.
  8. Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the not equal to sign (≠) and then click it.
  9. Click AutoCorrect. A dialog box appears.
  10. In the Replace with box, enter the name of the entry (such as ne1).
  11. Click Add.
  12. Click OK.
  13. Click Close.
  14. In the document, type the entry (such as ne1) and then press the spacebar.

The AutoCorrect dialog box appears as follows:

Autocorrect dialog box to add autocorrect entry for not equal sign in Word.

Since these shortcuts are typically saved in the Normal template, when you exit Word, if you are prompted to save the Normal template, click Yes.

If you insert an equation block in Word, you can insert symbols using Math AutoCorrect entries (note the Math AutoCorrect tab in the AutoCorrect Options dialog box). Simply type \neq and then press the Spacebar (this is the default Math Autocorrect entry for this symbol). This can be used outside of an equation block as well as long as Math AutoCorrect is set to Use Math AutoCorrect options outside of math regions.

4. Insert a not equal to sign using an Alt keyboard shortcut

You can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert the not equal to sign.

To insert the not equal to symbol in a Word document using Alt:

  1. Position the cursor where you want to insert the not equal to symbol.
  2. Press Alt + 8800 on the numeric keypad.

If the sequence doesn't work, press NumLock on the numeric keypad. If you don't have a numeric keypad on your laptop, you may be able to access number keys at the top of your keyboard in combination with another key (like Fn).

5. Insert a not equal to sign in an equation block or placeholder

If you insert an equation in Word, an Equation tab will appear in the Ribbon when the equation block or placeholder is selected and you can simply click the not equal to sign in the Ribbon to insert it into the equation.

To insert a not equal to sign in an equation block or placeholder:

  1. Click in the document where you want to enter an equation.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. In the Symbols group, click Equation to insert a new equation block or placeholder. Alternatively, type Alt + equal sign (=). You can also use an existing equation block or placeholder.
  4. Click in the equation block or placeholder.
  5. Click the Equation tab in the Ribbon.
  6. Click the More arrow on the bottom right of the Symbols gallery.
  7. At the top of the Symbols gallery, select Basic Math from drop-down menu (typically, this is the default).
  8. Click the not equal to sign.

You can also type \neq and then press the Spacebar (this is the default Math Autocorrect entry for this symbol).

Subscribe to get more articles like this one

Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, JOIN our email list.

More resources

How to Generate Random Text in Word

How to Insert a Check Mark in Word (5 Ways)

How to Indent the Second Line of a Paragraph in Word (3 Ways)

How to Insert the Square Root Symbol in Word (5 Ways to Type or Insert √)

How to Insert or Type an Upside Down Question Mark in Word (4 Ways to Insert ¿ with Shortcuts)

Related courses

Microsoft Word: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft Word: Long Documents Master Class

Microsoft Word: Styles, Templates and Tables of Contents

Microsoft Word: Designing Dynamic Word Documents Using Fields

VIEW MORE COURSES >

Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.

Copyright 2024 Avantix® Learning

You may also like

10 Word Shortcuts to Select Text Using a Keyboard

10 Word Shortcuts to Select Text Using a Keyboard

10 Timesaving Shortcuts to Select Text in Word Using Only a Keyboard by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 21, 2024 Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 (Windows) You can use several shortcuts in Word to select text in your documents using...

How to Generate Random Text in Word

How to Generate Random Text in Word

Generate Random Text in Microsoft Word Documents (Like Lorem Ipsum or Latin Text) by Avantix Learning Team | Updated May 4, 2023 Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows) If you are creating a Microsoft Word document, template or...

Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.

Avantix Learning |18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4 | Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca

Summary
How to Insert the Does Not Equal Sign in Word (5 Ways to Type or Insert ≠)
Article Name
How to Insert the Does Not Equal Sign in Word (5 Ways to Type or Insert ≠)
Description
You can insert the does not equal sign (not equal to sign) in a Word document using Insert Symbol, a keyboard shortcut, an AutoCorrect entry or an Alt shortcut.
Author
Publisher Name
Avantix Learning

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This