slash

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "slash" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate alternatives or to separate items in a list. Example: "You can choose coffee/tea for your drink." Alternative expressions include "or," "and/or," "alternatively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Punctuation & Grammar

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cowen and his administration might even borrow a phrase from Maggie when faced with criticism that their tax and slash budget crucified PAYE workers and their families in this Holy Week.

The Guardian

The Tories enjoyed a 5.5% swing among over-65s, whom they have shamelessly cultivated with promises to slash inheritance tax and shield pensioners from austerity.

The Guardian - Opinion

The seemingly sober Dutchman succeeded to the top job at the start of last year, promising to slash spending and sell underperforming assets.

The Guardian - Business

The vast majority of Irish renewable power comes from onshore wind, a sector from which the Tories in the UK have promised to slash subsidies.

The Guardian

The drastic cut was part of a Dutch government decision taken last year to slash the culture budget of €800m by 25%%.

The Guardian

In Kirklees, Yorkshire, Green councillors delivered a universal free insulation scheme that will slash the bills of 40,000 households, while also creating jobs, providing training, and cutting carbon emissions.

The Guardian

The Conservatives may not reveal details of plans to slash £12bn from the benefits bill before voters go to the polls on 7 May, Iain Duncan Smith has said.

The Guardian

A plan to slash the rebate for short consultations by $20 was also binned in January.

The Guardian

On Wednesday, activist shareholders at Chevron, led by campaign group As You Sow, will attend the company's annual meeting in San Ramon, California, inviting fellow investors to vote in favour of a resolution they have filed calling for Chevron to slash its upstream capital spending and to return the unused cash to shareholders.

The Guardian

I'd moan about how unbearably smug this must make all those stupid optimists, but my time here is limited and it'd probably only slash a couple more months off my life.

The Guardian - Opinion

Softening up the Irish public for a round of cuts and tax hikes, the taoiseach used a live televised address to explain why the government had to slash programmes and raise VAT.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, avoid overusing the punctuation mark to connect words; instead, use conjunctions like "and" or "or" for better flow.

Common error

Writers frequently confuse the "slash" (/) with the "backslash" (). The forward slash is used for URLs and and/or constructions, while the backslash is almost exclusively used in computer programming and file paths.

Linguistic Context

The word "slash" is highly polysemous, functioning as a verb (to cut), a noun (a cut or a mark) and a conjunction (to show alternatives). According to Ludwig AI, its most common modern usage in journalistic text refers to the dramatic reduction of costs or taxes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

General English

10%

Less common in

Literature

5%

Science

3%

Legal

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "slash" is a dynamic term that bridges the gap between physical action, economic policy and typographic necessity. Ludwig AI shows that it is an essential word for describing drastic reductions, particularly in political and business journalism. While the symbol / is ubiquitous in digital communication, writers should be mindful of its formal names like the "solidus" and ensure they do not confuse it with the "backslash". Its ability to serve as multiple parts of speech makes it one of the more versatile tools in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cut

Standard synonym for budget reductions or physical action

and/or

A phrase often replaced by the punctuation mark in writing

reduce significantly

More descriptive alternative for the verb used in economic contexts

stroke

Common British English term for the punctuation mark

gash

Refers specifically to a deep physical cut or wound

solidus

The formal typographic name for the punctuation mark

oblique

Another formal name for the symbol, primarily used in typography

slash-and-burn

A compound adjective relating to a specific agricultural technique

shilling mark

Historical name for the symbol used in currency

slash fiction

A specific subgenre of fan fiction

FAQs

How do I use "slash" in a sentence?

You can use "slash" as a verb meaning to "cut drastically", such as "The company decided to slash prices". As a noun, it refers to the symbol / or a physical "gash".

What is the formal name for the "slash" symbol?

While most people call it a "slash", its formal names in typography are the "solidus", the "virgule" or simply an "oblique".

Is it correct to use a "slash" in formal essays?

In formal academic writing, it is generally better to "avoid" the symbol / and write out "or" or "and" to ensure clarity and professional tone.

What is the difference between "slash" and "stroke"?

In American English, "slash" is the standard term, whereas in British English, "stroke" is often used for the punctuation mark /.