AO3 Relationship Tags
When to use a slash or ampersand, and how to find the tag your fandom already uses.
On Archive of Our Own, the relationship field uses / for romantic or sexual relationships and & for platonic ones, including friendship and family. Start with the relationship the work actually depicts, then choose the existing archive tag for those specific characters. AO3’s guidance on relationship tagging explains the ampersand format.
What the punctuation tells a reader
| Example draft | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Avery North/Casey Bell | The story depicts a romance or sexual relationship between Avery and Casey. |
| Avery North & Casey Bell | Their friendship, family bond, or other platonic relationship is a meaningful part of the work. |
| Avery North & Casey Bell plus Casey Bell/Jordan Kim | The work features two different relationships, one platonic and one romantic or sexual. |
These character names are fictional examples. A reader browsing the romance and friendship results expects the punctuation to match the kind of relationship they selected. When deciding how much to tag, think about which relationships someone would reasonably expect to encounter in the work.
How to choose the archive’s existing spelling
- Start in the Relationships field when posting or editing a work. Type a distinctive part of one name and look at autocomplete.
- Compare full names, aliases, and any fandom qualifiers shown. Two characters can have the same first name across different series.
- If the tag is unfamiliar, look for it in AO3’s tag search. Check the fandom and a few works before using it.
- For browsing, use the archive’s filter autocomplete to select the established tag. A nickname may find text matches without pulling in related spellings. AO3 explains how canonical tags work in filters.
What if a relationship changes during the story?
Consider what the work delivers and how much a reader can infer from your other tags and summary. If characters start as close friends and the romance is a meaningful part of the finished work, the slash label may fit that arc. If the work centers on a friendship, the ampersand gives readers that signal. For a work that treats both phases in detail, read the norms in your fandom and use additional tags or the summary to clarify the arc.
A group label such as Avery/Casey/Jordan reads differently from two separate pair tags. Before posting, decide whether the work is about the relationship among all three or about two pairs that happen to share a character. Search the relevant full labels individually to see what readers already use.
When a nickname belongs somewhere else
A blend such as Avasey might suit an art caption or a discussion post. Keep the names visible on the first mention if readers might not recognize the shorthand. The fandom ship name generator drafts both punctuation styles, lets you copy the one you need, and opens archive tag search with the draft. Use the ship name meaning guide for the difference between labels, nicknames, and concepts.