Use a Slash When Quoting Poetry or Song Lyrics and Sparingly for Alternatives

When you quote poetry, song lyrics, or the like, use a slash (with a space on either side) to show the line endings in the original:

The song begins like this: “Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings / At her table poetry penning / Loved to tell of dying swans. / Now her poetry’s gone, all gone.”

Alternatives like Mr./Ms. and and/or are graceless and should be avoided if possible. Certain alternatives, such as pass/fail and Jekyll/Hyde personality, are acceptable; do not add a space before or after the slash.