# Remove the qed symbol from only one proof environment, not all

I have seen several posts on how to remove the qed symbol in a proof, but that affects all proof environments. I would like to know how to remove the qed symbol in a particular proof because I have one proof inside another.

• If you write \phantom\qedhere anywhere in the proof the qed symbol disappears. But I don't know if it's the best way of doing that. Dec 25, 2012 at 19:43
• Certainly, this works, but I have a proof in another, produces an excessive vertical space to the next paragraph. Dec 25, 2012 at 20:03
• That's why this is not optimal. You have to find where to put it with no problems manually. i.e., If you put it at the end of a paragraph, it works fine, but still manual. Wait until someone gives you an universal way of doing it. Dec 25, 2012 at 20:09
• If you need a block with Proof at the beginning why don't you fake it? For example \par\noindent\textit{Proof.}. Dec 25, 2012 at 20:10
• Well, I found a way to do it but not very elegant. Thanks to Manuel, and all of you, for Replied. I added only \vspace{-0.5cm}\phantom\qedhere after the inner proof. Dec 25, 2012 at 20:50

Just locally change the meaning of \qedsymbol:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsthm}
\begin{document}
\begin{proof}
This has the QED symbol.
\end{proof}
\begin{proof}\renewcommand{\qedsymbol}{}
This hasn't.
\end{proof}
\begin{proof}
And this has it again.
\end{proof}
\end{document}


You can make a new environment for "inner proofs":

\newenvironment{innerproof}
{\renewcommand{\qedsymbol}{}\proof}
{\endproof}


which will do the same.

• Thanks for response. This works, but produce extra vertical space for the next paragraph when it has a proof inside another. Thanks a lot. Dec 25, 2012 at 20:54
• @JuanQuispe Some way or another you have to tell your reader when the inner proof ends Dec 25, 2012 at 20:58
• Yes. well, I found a way to do it, but is not very elegant. Merry Christmas Dec 25, 2012 at 21:01
• @JuanQuispe: Can you tell here? I think it would be interesting for other people also ... Dec 25, 2012 at 21:14
– balu
Mar 8, 2020 at 20:12

if you're using amsthm, you can do this:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsthm}
\begin{document}
\begin{proof}
This has the QED symbol.
\end{proof}
\begin{proof}\let\qed\relax
This hasn't.
\end{proof}
\begin{proof}
And this has it again.
\end{proof}
\end{document}


(thanks to egreg for providing an example that could be cribbed easily.)

I handle such cases as follows.

\begin{proof}\phantom{\qedhere}
No QED symbol.
\end{proof}

\begin{proof}
QED symbol.
\end{proof}

\begin{proof}
\begin{itemize}
\item \textellipsis
\item QED symbol at the end of the final item. \qedhere
\end{itemize}
\end{proof}

\begin{proof}\phantom{\qedhere}
$$\text{QED symbol at the end of the final equation.}\tag*{\qed}$$
\end{proof}