Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Virgule


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The virgule (/), is known by many names, including diagonal, solidus, oblique, slant, slash, forward slash, and slash mark. The virgule is used to represent a word that is not written out or to separate or set off certain adjacent elements of text.

A virgule most commonly signifies alternatives. In certain contexts it represents the word or.

Examples:


he/she
his/her
oral/written tests
and/or
alumni/ae

A virgule represents the word per or to when used with units of measure or when used to indicate the terms of a ratio.

Examples:

40,000 tons/year
14 gm/100 cc
9 ft./sec.
a 50/50 split

A virgule replaces the word and in some compound terms.

Examples:

in the May/June issue
1973/74
parent/child problems

A virgule punctuates some abbreviations and in lieu of a period.

Examples:

c/o
w/
w/o
S/Sgt
d/b/a


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Source: Grammar Done Right!





8 comments:

  1. Thanks for reminding me what this is called.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just always called it a slash mark. Now I know it's real name. Thanks.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm with Mason--it was a slash to me! Thanks for the info, Crystal. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow!!! It's got a name - brilliant!! Thanks for this info!! Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, I didn't know it actually had a name. Great info!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, everyone, for stopping by! I'm happy to have enlightened you all on the actual name for the "forward slash!"

    ReplyDelete

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