Slashes

Date adopted: 
October 27, 2022
Last update: 
July 28, 2023

Do not use slashes. They're often unclear and ambiguous.

Screen readers read web text out loud for people who are visually impaired. It can be confusing when they say the word "slash". 

Instead of writing "and/or" choose whether "and" or "or" is accurate and use that. Sometimes you may mean both. If so, write "both" or "either".

Not: and/or

But: and, or, both, either

Not: 24/7

But: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Use a hyphen to connect equal terms or words rather than a slash.

Not: federal/provincial/territorial

But: federal-provincial-territorial

Dates

Do not use slashes in dates or years.

View the guidance on dates.