Trouble Restricting Queries Results On 1 Column

To the point: I have a column which is a combo box (list) consisting of all the departments of company. I don't want 4 of the departments to show up in my query results. In the criteria field I have tried to use the following:

<> "department name", "department name", "department name", "department"

// Note: I've even attempted to place those departments inside parenthesis. And use ; between the names.

Other criteria I have attempted to use without the results needed are:

1.) Not In

Note: some of the department's name consist of a single name; some are two names with a space between the two names. I have entered the names in the same letter case as they were created in the table's combo list.

Suggestions are greatly appreciated.