Oblique vs. Slash — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 27, 2024
Oblique refers to a slanted or angled line, typically used in typography, whereas a slash is a punctuation mark (/) used to indicate alternatives or connections.
Difference Between Oblique and Slash
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Oblique, in typographic terms, refers to a style of font where the characters are slanted, mimicking italic styles but without the typical cursive-like transformations of true italics. On the other hand, a slash, also known as a forward slash, is a punctuation mark used in writing to separate elements, such as dates, fractions, or in URLs.
Oblique lines can appear in various contexts beyond typography, such as in geometry where they describe lines that intersect at a non-right angle. In contrast, the slash is strictly used as a linguistic or symbolic tool to denote division, alternatives, or a per in measurements.
In typography, an oblique typeface is often mechanically slanted, offering a simple tilted version of the standard typeface. Whereas, italic typefaces—which are often confused with oblique—are specifically designed with unique character shapes that differ from their upright counterparts.
When discussing angles, "oblique" describes anything that is not perpendicular or parallel to a reference line. On the other hand, the slash is used in written communication to indicate a range of grammatical or logical relationships, such as "and/or" which signifies inclusive disjunction.
In artistic representations, oblique perspectives involve portraying objects or scenes with a sense of depth or angularity. Conversely, the slash can be used artistically in graphic design or visual arts as a dynamic element to separate or intersect components within a composition.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A slanted line or typeface style.
A punctuation mark (/) used in text.
Usage in Typography
Mimics italics, mechanically slanted.
Not used; specific to separating elements.
Geometric Context
Lines intersecting at non-right angles.
Not applicable to geometry.
Usage in Written Language
Rare, mostly artistic or typographic.
Common, separates alternatives, dates, etc.
Artistic Use
Conveys depth or angular perspective.
Used as a visual element to separate areas.
Compare with Definitions
Oblique
Deviating from the horizontal or vertical.
Oblique angles were used in the design to create an interesting visual tension.
Slash
A sharp reduction, as in prices or budgets.
The new management announced a slash in funding for the project.
Oblique
Not explicit or done indirectly.
His remarks were somewhat oblique, leaving us guessing his true intentions.
Slash
To cut with a sweeping movement.
He made a quick slash through the underbrush with his machete.
Oblique
Slanted or sloping direction.
The artist's unique use of oblique lines adds a dramatic effect to the painting.
Slash
A punctuation mark (/) used to denote several meanings.
Use a slash to separate days, months, and years in dates.
Oblique
A typeface where characters are slanted.
The document was formatted in an oblique font to emphasize key points.
Slash
In computing, used as a directory path separator.
Access the root directory by starting your path with a slash.
Oblique
In anatomy, referring to a muscle neither parallel nor perpendicular to the long axis of a body or limb.
The external oblique muscle is crucial for rotational movements of the torso.
Slash
To cut or form by cutting with forceful sweeping strokes
Slash a path through the underbrush.
Oblique
Having a slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined.
Slash
To make a gash or gashes in.
Oblique
(Mathematics) Designating geometric lines or planes that are neither parallel nor perpendicular.
Slash
To cut a slit or slits in, especially so as to reveal an underlying color
Slash a sleeve.
Oblique
(Botany) Having the part on one side of the midrib of a different size or shape than the part on the other side. Used of a leaf.
Slash
(Sports) To swing a stick at (an opponent) in ice hockey or lacrosse, in violation of the rules.
Oblique
(Anatomy) Situated in a slanting position; not transverse or longitudinal
Oblique muscles or ligaments.
Slash
To criticize sharply
The reviewers slashed the composer's work.
Oblique
Indirect or evasive
Oblique political maneuvers.
Slash
(Sports) To hit or propel (a ball, for instance) forcefully in a straight line.
Oblique
Devious, misleading, or dishonest
Gave oblique answers to the questions.
Slash
To reduce or curtail drastically
Slash prices for a clearance sale.
Oblique
Not direct in descent; collateral.
Slash
To make forceful sweeping strokes with a sharp instrument.
Oblique
(Grammar) Designating any noun case except the nominative or the vocative.
Slash
To cut one's way with such strokes
We slashed through the dense jungle.
Oblique
An oblique thing, such as a line, direction, or muscle.
Slash
To make drastic reductions in something
Slashing away at the budget.
Oblique
At an angle of 45°.
Slash
A forceful sweeping stroke that is made with a sharp instrument.
Oblique
Not erect or perpendicular; not parallel to, or at right angles from, the base.
Slash
A long cut or other opening made by such a stroke; a gash or slit.
Oblique
Not straightforward; obscure or confusing.
Slash
A decorative slit in a fabric or garment.
Oblique
Disingenuous; underhand; morally corrupt.
Slash
A diagonal mark ( / ) that is used especially to separate alternatives, as in and/or, to represent the word per, as in miles/hour, to separate component parts of a URL, as in whitehouse.gov/kids/patriotism/, and to indicate the ends of verse lines printed continuously, as in Old King Cole / Was a merry old soul. Also called virgule.
Oblique
Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.
Slash
Branches and other residue left on a forest floor after the cutting of timber.
Oblique
Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side lower than the other.
Slash
Often slashes Wet or swampy ground overgrown with bushes and trees.
Oblique
Growing at an angle that is neither vertical nor horizontal.
Slash
As well as; and. Used as a representation of the virgule (as in restaurant/art gallery or actor/director), often styled with hyphens in print
A restaurant slash art gallery.
An actor-slash-director.
Oblique
(grammar) Pertaining to the oblique case (non-nominative).
Slash
A slashing action or motion, particularly:
Oblique
Indirect; employing the actual words of the speaker but as related by a third person, having the first person in pronoun and verb converted into the third person and adverbs of present time into the past, etc.
Slash
A swift, broad, cutting stroke made by an edged weapon or whip.
A slash of his blade just missed my ear.
Oblique
(music) Employing oblique motion, motion or progression in which one part (voice) stays on the same note while another ascends or descends.
Slash
(cricket) A wild swinging strike of the bat.
Oblique
(geometry) An oblique line.
Slash
A hard swift lateral strike with a hockey or lacrosse stick, usually across another player's arms or legs.
Oblique
Synonym of slash⟨/⟩.
Slash
Any similar wide striking motion.
He took a wild slash at the ball but the captain saved the team's skin by hacking it clear and setting up the team for a strike on the goal.
Oblique
(grammar) The oblique case.
Slash
(figuratively) A sharp reduction.
After the war ended, the army saw a 50% slash in their operating budget.
Oblique
(intransitive) To deviate from a perpendicular line; to become askew;
Slash
A mark made by a slashing motion, particularly:
Oblique
(military) To march in a direction oblique to the line of the column or platoon; — formerly accomplished by oblique steps, now by direct steps, the men half-facing either to the right or left.
Slash
A cut or laceration, often deep, made by an edged weapon or whip.
He was bleeding from a slash across his cheek.
Oblique
To slant (text, etc.) at an angle.
Slash
(botany) A deep taper-pointed incision in a plant.
Oblique
Not erect or perpendicular; neither parallel to, nor at right angles from, the base; slanting; inclined.
It has a direction oblique to that of the former motion.
Slash
Something resembling such a mark, particularly:
Oblique
Not straightforward; indirect; obscure;
The love we bear our friends . . . Hath in it certain oblique ends.
This mode of oblique research, when a more direct one is denied, we find to be the only one in our power.
Then would be closed the restless, oblique eye.That looks for evil, like a treacherous spy.
Slash
(fashion) A slit in an outer garment exposing a lining or inner garment, usually of a contrasting color or design; any intentional long vertical cut in a garment. Clearing
Oblique
Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.
His natural affection in a direct line was strong, in an oblique but weak.
Slash
A clearing in a forest, (particularly) those made by logging, fire, or other violent action.
Oblique
An oblique line.
Slash
The slash mark: the punctuation mark ⟨/⟩, sometimes inclusive of any mark produced by a similar slashing movement of the pen, as the backslash ⟨\⟩.
Oblique
To deviate from a perpendicular line; to move in an oblique direction.
Projecting his person towards it in a line which obliqued from the bottom of his spine.
Slash
Female genitalia.
Oblique
To march in a direction oblique to the line of the column or platoon; - formerly accomplished by oblique steps, now by direct steps, the men half-facing either to the right or left.
Slash
The loose woody debris remaining from a slash, the trimmings left while preparing felled trees for removal.
Slash generated during logging may constitute a fire hazard.
Oblique
Any grammatical case other than the nominative
Slash
(fandom slang) Slash fiction.
Oblique
A diagonally arranged abdominal muscle on either side of the torso
Slash
A drink of something; a draft.
Oblique
Slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angular;
The oblique rays of the winter sun
Acute and obtuse angles are oblique angles
The axis of an oblique cone is not perpendicular to its base
The axes are perpendicular to each other
Slash
A piss: an act of urination.
Where's the gents? I need to take a slash.
Oblique
Indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading;
Used devious means to achieve success
Gave oblique answers to direct questions
Oblique political maneuvers
Slash
(US) A swampy area; a swamp.
Slash
(Scotland) A large quantity of watery food such as broth.
Slash
(UK) slatch: a deep trough of finely-fractured culm or a circular or elliptical pocket of coal.
Slash
To cut or attempt to cut, particularly:
Slash
To cut with a swift broad stroke of an edged weapon.
They slashed at him with their swords, but only managed to nick one of his fingers.
She hacked and slashed her way across the jungle.
Slash
To produce a similar wound with a savage strike of a whip.
Slash
(ice hockey) To strike swiftly and laterally with a hockey stick, usually across another player's arms or legs.
Slash
(figuratively) To reduce sharply.
Competition forced them to slash prices.
Profits are only up right now because they slashed overhead, but employee morale and product quality have collapsed too.
Slash
(fashion) To create slashes in a garment.
Slash
(figuratively) To criticize cuttingly.
Slash
To strike violently and randomly, particularly:
Slash
(cricket) To swing wildly at the ball.
Slash
To move quickly and violently.
Slash
To crack a whip with a slashing motion.
Slash
To clear land, with violent action such as logging or brushfires or through grazing.
The province's traditional slash-and-burn agriculture was only sustainable with a much smaller population.
Slash
To write slash fiction.
Slash
To piss, to urinate.
Slash
To work in wet conditions.
Slash
Used to note the sound or action of a slash.
Slash
(North America) Used to connect two or more identities in a list.
Slash
(North America) Used to list alternatives.
Alternatives can be marked by the slash/stroke/solidus punctuation mark, a tall, right-slanting oblique line.
Slash
To cut by striking violently and at random; to cut in long slits.
Slash
To lash; to ply the whip to.
Slash
To crack or snap, as a whip.
Slash
To strike violently and at random, esp. with an edged instrument; to lay about one indiscriminately with blows; to cut hastily and carelessly.
Hewing and slashing at their idle shades.
Slash
A long cut; a cut made at random.
Slash
A large slit in the material of any garment, made to show the lining through the openings.
Slash
Swampy or wet lands overgrown with bushes.
Slash
A opening or gap in a forest made by wind, fire, or other destructive agency.
We passed over the shoulder of a ridge and around the edge of a fire slash, and then we had the mountain fairly before us.
Slash
A wound made by cutting;
He put a bandage over the cut
Slash
An open tract of land in a forest that is strewn with debris from logging (or fire or wind)
Slash
A punctuation mark (/) used to separate related items of information
Slash
A strong sweeping cut made with a sharp instrument
Slash
Cut with sweeping strokes; as with an ax or machete
Slash
Beat severely with a whip or rod;
The teacher often flogged the students
The children were severely trounced
Slash
Cut open;
She slashed her wrists
Slash
Cut drastically;
Prices were slashed
Slash
Move or stir about violently;
The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed
Common Curiosities
What is an oblique line in geometry?
An oblique line in geometry refers to any line that intersects another at an angle other than 90 degrees.
Can oblique typefaces replace italics?
Oblique typefaces can replace italics for emphasis, although they lack the stylistic flair of true italics.
What does "slash" mean in terms of internet addresses?
In internet addresses, slashes separate elements of the URL, such as protocol, domain, and path.
Is oblique perspective common in photography?
Oblique perspective is used in photography to add depth and interest to compositions by tilting the camera angle.
Are oblique angles used in everyday objects?
Yes, oblique angles are used in design and architecture to create interesting and dynamic structures.
How is the slash symbol used in mathematics?
In mathematics, the slash is used to denote division.
What are common uses of the slash in writing?
Common uses include separating items in lists, fractions, and alternatives in text.
What role does oblique play in anatomical terms?
In anatomy, oblique refers to muscles that are slanted relative to the body’s main axes.
How does a slash function in date formats?
It separates the day, month, and year in dates, e.g., 27/04/2024.
Can oblique angles be used in furniture design?
Yes, oblique angles are often used in modern furniture design to provide stability and visual interest.
How is the slash used in programming?
In programming, the slash is used in syntax to denote comments, division operations, and in regular expressions.
What is the visual impact of using oblique lines in graphic design?
Oblique lines create a sense of movement and tension, enhancing the dynamic quality of graphic designs.
Is there a difference between a slash and a backslash?
Yes, a slash (/) leans forward and is used in URLs and dates, while a backslash (\) leans backward and is used in Windows file paths.
How does an oblique muscle function differently from other muscles?
Oblique muscles help with rotation and lateral movement, differentiating from muscles that support linear motion.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
