is not equal to

USAGE SUMMARY

"is not equal to" is an acceptable phrase to use in written English.
It is used to signify when two things are not equal, or different from one another. For example: "The length of the blue line is not equal to the length of the green line."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Market dominance is not equal to monopoly.

The New York Times

Eating one bacon sandwich is not equal to smoking one cigarette.

The Guardian

Of course, to investors, a dollar spent in 1985 is not equal to one spent today.

The New York Times

In most cases the activity coefficient, γi, is not equal to unity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the hole dug by a client may sometimes be so deep that Rubenstein is not equal to the task.

The New Yorker

First of all, nobody keeps records of political lies, as computer memory is not equal to that task.

The Guardian - Opinion

The quality of evidence is not equal to the number of pages in scientific reports," he added.

The Guardian

Generally, is not equal to its true value.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

F is not equal to R for all θ values.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Therefore, the first equation is not equal to.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

For systems in this class the feedthrough matrix, D is not equal to zero.

Journal of Process Control

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing mathematical or technical content, using the symbol ≠ is more concise and universally understood, especially in international contexts. However, always define it previously, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that if something "is not equal to" something else, there is no relationship at all. Two things can be unequal but still correlated or related in some way. Ensure you specify the nature of the relationship, even if it's not one of equality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not equal to" functions as a relational phrase, indicating a lack of equality between two entities or values. It is used to explicitly state that two things are different. Ludwig provides numerous examples across various contexts demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is not equal to" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a lack of equality or equivalence between two entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted in written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it serves to clarify distinctions and avoid misinterpretations. While "is not equal to" and "is different from" are similar, subtle differences exist. Remember that unequal does not always mean unrelated. Always specify the nature of relationship even if it's not equality. Therefore, using the symbol ≠ is a more concise way to express it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is different from

This alternative directly states a difference between two entities.

is not the same as

This alternative emphasizes the lack of identity between two things.

does not equate to

This alternative focuses on the lack of equivalence or correspondence.

is distinct from

This alternative suggests a clear and recognizable difference.

is unlike

This alternative provides a more informal way to indicate dissimilarity.

is disparate from

This alternative suggests a fundamental difference or lack of connection.

is not analogous to

This alternative highlights the absence of similarity or comparability.

bears no resemblance to

This alternative emphasizes the lack of visual or superficial similarity.

is unrelated to

This alternative points out the absence of a relationship or connection.

diverges from

This alternative indicates a departure or deviation from a standard or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "is not equal to" in a sentence?

The phrase "is not equal to" is used to indicate that two things are different or not equivalent. For example, "The cost of the product is not equal to its perceived value".

What is a more formal way to say "is not equal to"?

More formal alternatives include "is distinct from", "does not equate to", or "is disparate from" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is not equal to" or "is not equally to"?

"Is not equal to" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Is not equally to" is grammatically incorrect.

When should I use "is not the same as" instead of "is not equal to"?

While similar, "is not equal to" focuses on a quantifiable difference, while "is not the same as" emphasizes a difference in nature or identity. Choose based on the specific context.