Isn’t a slash meant to be between two letters or words? So, what’s special about “W/”? A slash without anything after it can seem strange.
However, when it follows “W,” it represents a popular word. In this article, we’ll explain the meaning of “W/” (both with and without the slash) and explore the interesting history behind this abbreviation.
Let’s dive into it!
Important Information to Note
- “W/” stands for “with.” You’ll find it in social media, texts, notes, or casual Slack messages.
- A “W” without the slash can represent “with” or “win.” When it means “win,” it usually appears alone or in a celebratory context.
- Feel free to use “W/” in texts, notes, tweets, and even recipes. However, avoid using it in formal or significant professional writing; it’s better to spell out “with” in those cases.
Understanding “W/” and “W”
“W/” is a shortcut for “with” that you might see online or in written form. Although “with” is already a brief word, using “W/” makes it quicker to write by hand and saves space when typing.
You can use it in uppercase (“W/”) or lowercase (“w/”), and it can appear without a slash (“w”) or even with a period (“w.”).
“W/” is common in casual writing, such as text messages, social media posts, handwritten notes, recipes, apartment ads, or informal work messages like those on Slack.
- “Meeting at the park w/ friends this Saturday.”
- “Make sure to bring your laptop w/ the charger.”
- “I’ll go to the concert w/ you if you can get tickets.”
- “The recipe calls for chicken w/ herbs and spices.”
Alternate “W” Meaning
“W” can stand for “win” online or in texts. If you receive a simple “W” in a celebratory conversation on TikTok or X, it usually means “winning” or “win.”
This usage is mostly found online. You might also hear someone say, “We got the ‘dub!” where “‘dub” is a short form of “double-u.” In a similar way, “L” is often used to mean “loss” or “losing.”
- “We won the game! Can I get a W for that? 🎉”
- “That team scored the W last night!”
- Person A: “I passed my exam!”
Person B: “W! Let’s celebrate!”
“W” & “W/” Uses
You can use “W/” instead of “with” in casual messages. It’s a handy shortcut!
Use it when you’re posting on social media, sending texts, jotting down quick notes in class or meetings, or leaving instructions for someone.
Just remember to stick to informal writing—it’s better to write out “with” in formal or professional contexts.
- “I’m going to the movies w/ my friends tonight!”
- “Make sure to water the plants w/ care while I’m away.”
- “I’ll meet you at the café w/ my brother later.”
- “Don’t forget to take your medicine w/ breakfast.”
“W/O” represents “without.” Just add an “O” after the slash in “W/” to create the abbreviation for “without.” You can use “w/o” similarly to how you use “w/.”
It’s great for casual texts, social media posts, notes, and instructions when you want to save characters.
- “Can you grab me a drink w/o ice?”
- “I’m going to the party, but I’m leaving w/o my jacket.”
- “Please send me the report w/o any errors.”
- “Don’t forget to clean the kitchen w/o making a mess!”
Send a “W” in the chat to celebrate a victory online or through text. You can reply to someone’s message with just “W” or comment “W” on a tweet or TikTok video to show your support.
Use “W” on its own as an exclamation (like saying “Winning!”) or include it in a complete sentence.
Adding emojis can make your messages more fun and festive!
- “Great job on your presentation! You really earned that W!”
- Them: “Check out my new artwork!”
- You: “W! It looks amazing!”
- “Congrats on your promotion! That’s a huge W!”
- “I just finished my project early! W!”
“W/” Origins
The abbreviation “W/” likely originated from fast food orders written by hand in the 1950s.
As the need for speed grew in restaurants, servers started using shorthand to jot down orders quickly.
“W/” and “W/O” became simple ways to represent “with” and “without” when customers wanted to modify their meals by adding or removing items.
- “1 fries w/o salt”
- “Chicken sandwich w/ lettuce and tomato”
