Definition: A slash or virgule (/) in writing is the forward slash. It has several conventional uses. There are no spaces on either side of the slash except when dividing lines of poetry.
Poetry
If a poem is cited in paragraph form without line breaks, slashes are inserted between the lines. This should be limited to four or five lines only. If you write out more than five lines of a poem, it's better to write them with line breaks.
The last stanza of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Crossing the Bar" is "For though from out our bourne of Time and Place / The flood may bear me far, / I hope to see my Pilot face to face / When I have crossed the bar."
Dates
Slashes can be used to divide elements of a date in informal writing.
Her daughter was born on 7/3/86.
This date stands for July 3, 1986 in the US and March 7, 1986 in most other parts of the world.
Fractions and Ratios
1/2 or 3/4 (Note: Most computers will change fractions to a smaller font.)
10 miles/hour = 10 miles per hour
And/or and Similar Combinations
Often a slash means and/or, but using a slash this way is not appropriate in formal writing. Most style manuals recommend avoiding and/or, he/she, and his/her.
We received the June/July issue by the end of May.
The winner will receive a savings bond, but he/she will have to save it for at least six months before spending it.
I generally order the soup/salad combo at that restaurant.
Abbreviations
Use these abbreviations for informal writing only:
Care of = c/o (This is most often used as a postal abbreviation.)
With = w/
Without = w/o