Slash

The slash (/) is also known as: forward slash, stroke, oblique. You should use the slash with care in formal writing.

1. A slash is often used to indicate "or":

• Dear Sir/Madam (Sir or Madam)
• Please press your browser's Refresh/Reload button. (Refresh or Reload)
• The speech will be given by President/Senator Clinton. (President Clinton or Senator Clinton)
• Mary will eat cake and/or fruit. (Mary will eat cake, or Mary will eat fruit, or Mary will eat cake and fruit.)

Do not over-use the slash to indicate "or". It can suggest laziness on the part of the writer. The "and/or" construction is widely considered to be very bad form.

2. Use a slash for fractions:

• 1/2 (one half)
• 2/3 (two thirds)
• 9/10 (nine tenths)

3. Use a slash to indicate "per" in measurements of speed, prices etc:

• The speed limit is 100 km/h. (kilometres per hour)
• He can type at 75 w/m. (words per minute)
• The eggs cost $3/dozen. ($3 per dozen)
• They charge €1.50/litre for petrol. (€1.50 per litre)

4. People often use a slash in certain abbreviations:

• This is my a/c number. (account)
• John Brown, c/o Jane Green (care of)
• n/a (not applicable, not available)
• w/o (without)

5. A slash is often used in dates to separate day, month and year:

• On credit card: Expires end 10/15 (October 2015)
• He was born on 30/11/2007. (30th November 2007 - BrE)
• It was invented on 11/30/2007. (November 30th, 2007 - AmE)

6. The slash is used to separate parts of a website address (URL) on the Internet, and to separate folders on some computer systems:

• www.example.com/writing/slash.php
• file:///Users/mac/tara/photos/image.jpg