Guide to Typing Inverted Greater Than and Less Than Signs in Microsoft Word

When working with mathematical equations and symbols in Microsoft Word, it is often necessary to use specific symbols to denote operations such as 'equal to or less than' (≤) and 'equal to or greater than' (≥). Sometimes, these symbols need to be inverted to represent 'not equal to or less than' (≮) and 'not equal to or greater than' (≯). This guide will help you achieve this in Microsoft Word using Unicode characters and the Equation Editor.

Using Unicode Characters

One efficient method to insert these symbols is to use Unicode characters. These can be typed directly into your document by using specific keyboard shortcuts or by copying and pasting from online sources.

To insert these symbols:

Using Unicode Characters: For code>{Inverted Less Than} symbol: Insert the characters U 2270 (≮) by holding down the ALT key and typing 8 8 1 6 on the numeric keypad. For code>{Inverted Greater Than} symbol: Insert the characters U 2271 (≯) by holding down the ALT key and typing 8 8 1 7 on the numeric keypad.

Alternatively, you can find these symbols through the 'Insert Symbol' feature in Microsoft Word:

Go to Insert > Symbol in the menu bar. Search for the character and insert it.

These symbols can then be used directly in your text, and you may need to adjust their size or positioning to fit your document's formatting.

Using Equation Editor

The Equation Editor in Microsoft Word provides an alternative method to create these symbols, including inverted versions. Here’s how to use it:

Open Equation Editor: Go to Insert > Equation or type Alt . Type the Symbols: For the inverted less than or equal to symbol (≮), type notleq in the equation editor. For the inverted greater than or equal to symbol (≯), type notgeq in the equation editor. Add a Slash: Unfortunately, the Equation Editor does not directly support adding slashes. Instead, you can overlay a slash using a text box or by drawing a diagonal line over the symbol. Here’s how: Go to Insert > Symbols > Shapes. Select the line tool and draw a diagonal line over the symbol. Adjust the line thickness and angle to make it look like a slash through the symbol.

Example of using the Equation Editor:

In the Equation Editor, type: otleqend{code> for sign ≮ otgeqend{code> for sign ≯

Final Adjustments

After inserting the symbols, you may need to make final adjustments to their size and positioning to fit your documents formatting. These symbols can be resized and repositioned using the formatting tools available in Microsoft Word.

Alternative Method

Another method to find these symbols is by copying from an online source and pasting them in your document. You can also find the symbols you want on the internet, paste them into a photo editing program, resize them, and then paste that “picture” into Word. This way, you can have more control over the symbol's design and fit.

Key Takeaways

Understanding how to use Unicode characters and the Equation Editor in Microsoft Word can greatly enhance your ability to create complex mathematical symbols in your documents. These methods are particularly useful for academic and technical writing where precision in notation is crucial.

Keywords: Microsoft Word, Inverted Greater Than, Inverted Less Than, Unicode Characters, Equation Editor