<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-03-000139
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030915
<FILING-DATE>20030917
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DREW ERNEST H
<CIK>0001060580
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2911
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-02918
<FILM-NUMBER>03898960
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2029 LAS TUNAS ROAD
<CITY>SANTA BARBARA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>93103
<PHONE>6063293333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2029 LAS TUNAS ROAD
<CITY>SANTA BARBARA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>93103
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
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<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>
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<SEQUENCE>1
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000007694</issuerCik><issuerName>ASHLAND INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001060580</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>DREW ERNEST H</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>2029 LAS TUNAS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SANTA BARBARA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>93103</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6168</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Restricted Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>82</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.67</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>82</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10125</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">A portion of these shares are held in Ashland's  Open Enrollment Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan as of 6-16-03.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents shares of Restricted Common Stock acquired pursuant to Ashland's stock incentive plans as approved by the shareholders and exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors as of 9-15-03, 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>2003-09-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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