punctuation - Using slash (/) as an abbreviation


As far as I know, a period is commonly used for an abbreviation (e.g., Feb., Mon., Inc.). But I can also see a slash in these cases: w/, w/o.


Is there any grammar rule for an abbreviation? or is latter case an exception?



Answer



There are a dozen or so "abbreviations" which employ the "/" character and which are generally recognized in US English. A few that come to mind:



  • w/o -- without

  • w/ -- with (probably derived from "w/o")

  • o/t -- overtime

  • N/A -- not applicable (or "not available", and several others)

  • w/r/t -- with regard to


(And there are no doubt hundreds if not thousands of such abbreviations used in individual disciplines such as medicine or electronics.)


Note that while some a most commonly lower case, others usually are upper case, and this may vary from one writer or context to the next.


The "/" character is also generally recognized as a shorthand for "or" separating a pair of options, as in "The person who insists on always using the properly-gendered personal pronoun will often find his/her efforts stymied by a lack of information."


Usually the "/" character is used without spaces between it and adjacent components, but in cases where one side is "exposed", such as "w/" for "with" (vs "without"), there should be a separating space.


This sort of abbreviation is used so rarely (and often in technical contexts) that it's difficult to define how "formal" it is.


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