Grammatically Correct: The writer's essential guide to punctuation ...

GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT
circus," since the significance of the relationship cannot be inferred
from the words alone.)
Linking words with a hyphen doesn't carry the same meaning,
since the function of the hyphen is to form a new compound word.
With a slash, each word retains its independence. If your intention
is to form a compound, the hyphen is probably the more appropriate
mark.
A more formal way of expressing the type of relationship expressed
by the slash is to use the Latin word cum, optionally italicized
and linked to the other words with hyphens: a trial-cummedia
circus, a bedroom-cum-workshop.
• The slash may serve to connect two distinct entities that are
either parts of a whole or closely affiliated.
The audio/video controls are at the back of the console.
Her specialty is obstetrics/gynecology.
If you enter, you will be eligible to win a washer/dryer set, a radio/cassette
player and other exciting prizes!
In more formal writing, use the word and instead, or link the
related words with a hyphen (if appropriate).
• In situations that present two clear alternatives, the slash is
often an acceptable symbol for or.
The graduate courses are graded pass/fail.
In the second part of the exam, the questions were true/false.
If a player draws an ace, he/she loses a turn.
Dear Sir/Madam:
In more formal writing, use the word or instead. (It should also
be noted that many people balk at he/she-and hit the roof over
s!he. For more on this, see the section on pronouns in "Writing With
Sensitivity" on page 297.)
• Probably the most common use of the slash is in the combination
and/or, which is an efficient way of expressing a slightly unwieldy
concept. It can be useful for scenarios where the possibilities are
option a, option b or both: That is, a and b do not necessarily coexist,
but they are not mutually exclusive either.
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