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Subject:Re: Use of a slash (/) From:BurkBrick -at- AOL -dot- COM Date:Tue, 31 May 1994 03:30:34 EDT
Sorry this is a little late, but it got lost somewhere on the net -
>I couldn't find anything in my style guides and grammar books
>about the proper use of the slash (/).
>I have always used it to indicate words that are somewhat
>synonymous. I am editing an article for a computer security
>officer, and he uses it as follows:
> student/employee privacy -- grades/payroll data.
>I want to justify changing the slash to "or" -- as it also is my
>understanding that "or" implies "and/or".
I have some notes that say that "One style manual lists twenty-four
contradictory, accepted meanings for the virgule. Say what you mean - and,
or, per, or divide." Unfortunately, I don't remember which style manual, so
you'll have take my word for it. :^)
Anyway, based on this, I avoid the virgule wherever possible, because with 24
possible meanings, the possibility for confusion is great.
