Yes, this is normal behavior. Check \|\\ in help. \ echoes to the screen WITH carriage return before and after, \\ echoes WITHOUT the carriage returns.
>
>* Incommandwindow:
>\Allwork and no play makes Jack a dull boy
>\2000 * 3
>
>* echos the string
>
>Is this known behaviour? (I found it because of a typo)