<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-03-000077
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030616
<FILING-DATE>20030618
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND INC
<CIK>0000007694
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5160
<IRS-NUMBER>610122250
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
<PHONE>6068153333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL & REFINING CO
<DATE-CHANGED>19700806
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SOLSO THEODORE M
<CIK>0001097587
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-02918
<FILM-NUMBER>03748682
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
<STREET2>500 WASHINGTON STREET
<CITY>COLUMBUS
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>47201
<PHONE>8123761909
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
<STREET2>500 WASHINGTON STREET
<CITY>COLUMBUS
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>47201
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001097587d20030618f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000007694</issuerCik><issuerName>ASHLAND INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001097587</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SOLSO THEODORE M</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>67</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>33.28</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>67</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8144</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F2">1-for-1</footnote><footnote id="F3">Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors as of 6-16-03, payable in cash or stock upon termination of service and exempt under Rule 16b-3.  (One (1) Common Stock Unit in the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors is the equivalent of one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock)</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>M. Craig Hall</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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