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Relation symbols in LaTeX math

In math mode, use \leq (or \le) for ≤, \neq (or \ne) for ≠ and \in for ∈; most relations have a negated form with an n in front, such as \nleq, or with \not before the symbol.

Using relations

A relation compares two things, and LaTeX puts a thick space on each side, a little more than around an operator. Typed <, > and = are relations already; the others have commands.

Relations in running text

LaTeXOpen in editor
For all $n \geq 44$ we have $a_n \leq b_n$, so $\lim a_n \neq \infty$.
The set satisfies $x \in A \subseteq B$, and $\pi \approx 3.14$.
Rendered by Scissor LaTeX: Relations in running text

Many relations come in a negated form. Where a command exists, such as \neq, \notin, \nleq or \nsubseteq, use it: the slash is drawn to fit. \not in front of any other relation strikes it through.

Negated relations

LaTeXOpen in editor
a \neq b \qquad x \notin A \qquad p \nmid q \qquad A \nsubseteq B \qquad x \not\equiv y

Definitions often use :=. With mathtools, \coloneqq gives a colon centred on the equals sign, which reads better than typing :=.

Definitions and equivalences

LaTeXPreamble: \usepackage{mathtools}Open in editor
f(x) \coloneqq x^2 + 44 \qquad a \equiv b \pmod{n} \qquad A \cong B \qquad x \propto y

All relation symbols

All of these work in Scissor LaTeX. Click a copy button to copy the command.

  • \in
  • \isin
  • \notin
  • \subset
  • \subseteq
  • \subsetneqq
  • \ne
  • \neq
  • \lt
  • \gt
  • \le
  • \ge
  • \leq
  • \geq
  • \leqslant
  • \geqslant
  • \eqslantgtr
  • \eqslantless
  • \approx
  • \sim
  • \simeq
  • \backsimeq
  • \cong
  • \ncong
  • \nsim
  • \backsim
  • \eqsim
  • \triangleq
  • \curlyeqprec
  • \curlyeqsucc
  • \gtrdot
  • \gg
  • \ngeq
  • \geqq
  • \gtrless
  • \gneqq
  • \ngtr
  • \gnsim
  • \gtrsim
  • \vartriangleright
  • \trianglerighteq
  • \ntrianglerighteq
  • \ntriangleright
  • \ggg
  • \lessdot
  • \ll
  • \nleq
  • \leqq
  • \lessgtr
  • \lneqq
  • \nless
  • \lnsim
  • \lesssim
  • \vartriangleleft
  • \trianglelefteq
  • \ntrianglelefteq
  • \ntriangleleft
  • \lll
  • \approxeq
  • \prec
  • \precapprox
  • \preceq
  • \preccurlyeq
  • \npreceq
  • \precnapprox
  • \nprec
  • \precnsim
  • \precsim
  • \succ
  • \succapprox
  • \succeq
  • \succcurlyeq
  • \nsucceq
  • \succnapprox
  • \nsucc
  • \succnsim
  • \succsim
  • \equiv
  • \propto
  • \ni
  • \nsubseteq
  • \sqsubseteq
  • \subsetneq
  • \supset
  • \supseteq
  • \nsupseteq
  • \sqsupseteq
  • \supsetneq
  • \models
  • \therefore
  • \because
  • \mid
  • \nmid
  • \parallel
  • \shortparallel
  • \nparallel
  • \perp
  • \Join
  • \vdash
  • \nvdash
  • \vDash
  • \nvDash
  • \dashv
  • \asymp
  • \circeq
  • \smile
  • \doteq
  • \Vdash
  • \Vvdash
  • \gnapprox
  • \ngeqslant
  • \precneqq
  • \gneq
  • \between
  • \bowtie
  • \Bumpeq
  • \bumpeq
  • \coloneq
  • \coloneqq
  • \doteqdot
  • \eqcolon
  • \eqqcolon
  • \fallingdotseq
  • \frown
  • \lessapprox
  • \lnapprox
  • \lneq
  • \nVDash
  • \nVdash
  • \owns
  • \pitchfork
  • \risingdotseq
  • \sqsubset
  • \sqsupset
  • \subseteqq
  • \succneqq
  • \supseteqq
  • \supsetneqq
  • \unlhd
  • \unrhd
  • \varpropto

Questions and answers

What is the difference between \le and \leq?

None. \le and \leq are two names for ≤, and \ge and \geq for ≥. \leqslant and \geqslant from amssymb give the slanted form.

How do I write "not an element of" in LaTeX?

Use \notin: $x \notin A$ gives x ∉ A. \not\in also works, but \notin is drawn better.

How do I write "approximately equal" in LaTeX?

\approx gives ≈. For "similar" use \sim (∼), and for "asymptotically equal" \simeq (≃).

Every example on this page is typeset by Scissor LaTeX when the site is built. Last updated 2026-11-06.