Slash vs. Hyphen — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on August 30, 2023
Slash is a diagonal line (/), used to indicate alternatives or fractions; hyphen (-) connects words or separates syllables.
Difference Between Slash and Hyphen
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A slash, also known as a virgule or forward slash, is often used to indicate a choice or alternative. For instance, in "and/or", the slash signifies the possibility of either "and" or "or". On the other hand, a hyphen is typically used to link words together, creating compound terms like "mother-in-law" or "blue-eyed".
A slash may denote fractions or ratios. In the fraction "3/4", the slash represents division, signaling three divided by four. Conversely, a hyphen doesn't hold mathematical significance in this manner but might appear in number ranges, such as "a 3-4 week course", emphasizing the duration.
In URLs or file paths, a slash is critical. A website address like "www.example.com/page1" utilizes slashes to navigate different directories. The hyphen, meanwhile, doesn't function in directories but is common in website URLs to replace spaces or link words, like "best-rated-products".
When referencing dates in a specific format, a slash separates the day, month, and year, as in "08/24/2023". A hyphen, however, is not typically used in date formatting but can connect grouped numbers, like in "a 24-48 hour period".
In modern colloquialism, "slash" can signify a quick change in topic or a side note in speech, akin to saying "by the way". The hyphen doesn't possess a similar colloquial meaning, retaining its primary function of joining words or parts of words.
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Comparison Chart
Usage
Indicates choice or division
Connects words or parts of words
Mathematics
Represents fractions
Used in number ranges
In Web Addresses
Navigates directories
Replaces spaces or links words
Dates
Separates day, month, year
Not typically used
Colloquialism
Change in topic or side note
No colloquial equivalent
Compare with Definitions
Slash
A punctuation mark indicating a choice or alternative.
Choose a main course/side dish.
Hyphen
A punctuation mark connecting words or parts of words.
The well-known artist is coming.
Slash
Denotes a separation in dates.
Her birthday is 08/24/2003.
Hyphen
The hyphen ‐ is a punctuation mark used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. The use of hyphens is called hyphenation.
Slash
Suggests a shift in spoken topic.
I was walking my dog - slash - my neighbor's dog.
Hyphen
Used to denote number ranges.
The event lasts for 3-4 days.
Slash
Represents division in mathematics.
The fraction 1/2 represents half.
Hyphen
Indicates broken syllables in words.
The word in-ter-rupt is broken down with hyphens.
Slash
Used in file paths or URLs.
Visit the website at www.example.com/page1.
Hyphen
Helps in creating compound adjectives.
She wore a blue-green dress.
Slash
To crack or snap, as a whip.
Hyphen
Can replace omitted common elements.
The years 1999-2005 were prosperous.
Slash
Cut open;
She slashed her wrists
Hyphen
(figuratively) Something that links two more consequential things.
Slash
To criticize sharply
The reviewers slashed the composer's work.
Hyphen
The symbol "‐", typically used to join two or more words to form a compound term, or to indicate that a word has been split at the end of a line.
Slash
To make forceful sweeping strokes with a sharp instrument.
Hyphen
An enclosed walkway or passage that connects two buildings.
Slash
A forceful sweeping stroke that is made with a sharp instrument.
Hyphen
A punctuation mark ( - ) used between the parts of a compound word or name or between the syllables of a word, especially when divided at the end of a line of text.
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.
Hyphen
To hyphenate.
Slash
(cricket) To swing wildly at the ball.
Hyphen
Someone who belongs to a marginalized subgroup, and can therefore described by a hyphenated term, such as "German-American", "female-academic", etc.
Slash
A long cut; a cut made at random.
Hyphen
To separate or punctuate with a hyphen; to hyphenate.
Slash
An open tract of land in a forest that is strewn with debris from logging (or fire or wind)
Hyphen
A mark or short dash, thus [-], placed at the end of a line which terminates with a syllable of a word, the remainder of which is carried to the next line; or between the parts of many a compound word; as in fine-leaved, clear-headed. It is also sometimes used to separate the syllables of words.
Slash
To cut or form by cutting with forceful sweeping strokes
Slash a path through the underbrush.
Hyphen
A punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text
Slash
To make a gash or gashes in.
Hyphen
Divide or connect with a hyphen;
Hyphenate these words and names
Slash
To cut a slit or slits in, especially so as to reveal an underlying color
Slash a sleeve.
Hyphen
Used to emphasize the coordinating function usually indicated by the punctuation "-".
Slash
(Sports) To swing a stick at (an opponent) in ice hockey or lacrosse, in violation of the rules.
Hyphen
To connect with, or separate by, a hyphen, as two words or the parts of a word.
Slash
(Sports) To hit or propel (a ball, for instance) forcefully in a straight line.
Slash
To reduce or curtail drastically
Slash prices for a clearance sale.
Slash
To cut one's way with such strokes
We slashed through the dense jungle.
Slash
To make drastic reductions in something
Slashing away at the budget.
Slash
A long cut or other opening made by such a stroke; a gash or slit.
Slash
A decorative slit in a fabric or garment.
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.
Slash
Branches and other residue left on a forest floor after the cutting of timber.
Slash
Often slashes Wet or swampy ground overgrown with bushes and trees.
Slash
A genre of fanfic depicting romantic relationships between characters, usually of the same sex, that are not romantically connected in the original work or works upon which the fanfic is based.
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.
Slash
A slashing action or motion, particularly:
Slash
A swift, broad, cutting stroke made by an edged weapon or whip.
A slash of his blade just missed my ear.
Slash
(cricket) A wild swinging strike of the bat.
Slash
A hard swift lateral strike with a hockey or lacrosse stick, usually across another player's arms or legs.
Slash
(figuratively) A sharp reduction.
After the war ended, the army saw a 50% slash in their operating budget.
Slash
A mark made by a slashing motion, particularly:
Slash
A cut or laceration, often deep, made by an edged weapon or whip.
He was bleeding from a slash across his cheek.
Slash
(botany) A deep taper-pointed incision in a plant.
Slash
Something resembling such a mark, particularly:
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
Slash
A clearing in a forest, (particularly) those made by logging, fire, or other violent action.
Slash
The slash mark: the punctuation mark ⟨/⟩, sometimes inclusive of any mark produced by a similar slashing movement of the pen, as the backslash ⟨\⟩.
Slash
Female genitalia.
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.
Slash
(fandom slang) Slash fiction.
Slash
A drink of something; a draft.
Slash
A piss: an act of urination.
Where's the gents? I need to take a slash.
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
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 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 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
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
Move or stir about violently;
The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed
Slash
Cut drastically;
Prices were slashed
Common Curiosities
How is a hyphen different from a dash?
A hyphen connects words or parts of words, while a dash indicates a pause or range.
How is a hyphen used in compound words?
It joins two or more words together, like in "mother-in-law".
When can a slash be used in math?
It can represent division, as seen in fractions.
Can a slash be replaced by the word "or"?
Often, yes. For instance, "and/or" can be "and or or".
What is the main function of a slash in grammar?
It's primarily used to indicate a choice or alternative.
Why is a slash used in URLs?
It navigates directories and pages in web addresses.
Is the use of "slash" in spoken language to change topics formal?
No, it's colloquial and is akin to saying "by the way".
Can hyphens replace spaces in web addresses?
Yes, hyphens often replace spaces in URLs to link words or replace spaces.
Is it correct to use hyphens in dates like 2023-08-24?
This format is ISO standard and is correct, although different from the MM/DD/YYYY format.
When is it best to use a hyphen in a sentence?
When connecting compound words or indicating number ranges.
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Written 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.
