does not equal

USAGE SUMMARY

"does not equal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest that two things are not the same. For example: "He has two cats, which does not equal a dog."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Proximity does not equal easy access, though.

The New York Times

And creepy does not equal sexy.

Vice

Making music does not equal making money.

Huffington Post

More force does not equal more control.

Huffington Post

Trading more does not equal more return.

Huffington Post

No report does not equal no occurrence.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

However, "individualized" does not equal "personalized".

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Looking good does not equal looking desperate!

WikiHow

Excessive gore does not equal scary.

WikiHow

Cheap does not equal ineffective".

The Guardian

Price does not equal value".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "does not equal" to clearly and directly state that two quantities, qualities, or concepts are not the same. This phrase is universally understood and suitable for various contexts, from technical writing to everyday communication.

Common error

Avoid using "does not equal" in situations where you mean "is not necessarily caused by." Correlation doesn't imply causation; just because two things occur together doesn't mean one causes the other. Saying "correlation does not equal causation" is accurate, but misusing "does not equal" in causal arguments is a common mistake.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "does not equal" functions as a conjunction phrase used to express inequality or a lack of equivalence between two concepts, values, or entities. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase asserts that two things are not the same. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its broad applicability across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "does not equal" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express inequality or difference. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is acceptable in written English, and the examples show it appears frequently across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki articles. When writing, remember to use "does not equal" to directly assert that two things are not the same, but avoid misusing it in situations that involve correlation versus causation. For greater nuance, consider alternative phrases like "is not the same as" or "is distinct from".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not the same as

Emphasizes a lack of identity or equivalence between two things.

is distinct from

Highlights the separate and individual nature of two items or concepts.

is different than

A common alternative to 'different from', focusing on dissimilarity.

is not equivalent to

Specifically denotes a lack of equal value or measure.

does not represent

Indicates that one thing is not a symbol or stand-in for another.

is unlike

Suggests a contrast or absence of resemblance.

is separate from

Highlights the disconnection or independence of two entities.

is other than

Formally specifies that something is not a particular item or concept.

bears no resemblance to

Emphasizes a complete lack of similarity or likeness.

diverges from

Indicates a departure or deviation from a standard or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "does not equal" in a sentence?

You can use "does not equal" to show that two things are not the same. For example, "Hard work "does not equal success"" means that working hard doesn't automatically guarantee success.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "does not equal"?

Alternatives to "does not equal" include phrases like "is not the same as", "is distinct from", or "is different from", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "does not equal" in formal writing?

Yes, "does not equal" is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing. It clearly expresses that two things are not equivalent or identical.

What is the difference between "does not equal" and "is not equivalent to"?

"Does not equal" and "is not equivalent to" are very similar. "Does not equal" is more general, while "is not equivalent to" specifically implies a lack of equal value or measure.