>>>>>>Separately, I don't share your dismay at references to the keyboard key as "forward slash." There are in fact two slash keys on a keyboard, one that leans forward and one that leans backward. What's the problem with making it crystal clear which one is meant? Up to a point, there is no reason not to be as clear as possible.
>>>>>
>>>>>In a slash, which side is the front, and which side is the rear?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The position of the top relative to the bottom determines whether it is a forward slash or a back slash.
>>>
>>>So since we read from left to right up to down \ is more "forward" then /. ::)
>>>
>>
>>Not to be pedantic or anything <g> but that isn't what I said. Or maybe I said it poorly. If the top of the slash is to the right of the bottom, it's a forward slash. If the top is to the left of the bottom, it's a backward slash. Better?
>
>THERE'S NO SUCH BLOODY THING AS A FORWARD-SLASH! IS MY VERY POINT! It's a slash/solidus/oblique/stroke

If you want to be pedantic, then according to MS, it's solidus and reverse solidus. But let's face it, nobody wants to go there. ;)