<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-03-000165
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030918
<FILING-DATE>20030922
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HAUSRATH DAVID L
<CIK>0001077477
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-02918
<FILM-NUMBER>03903474
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E RIVERCENTER BLVD
<STREET2>PO BOX 391
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012-0391
<PHONE>6063293333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>P O BOX 391
<CITY>ASHLAND
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41101
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001077477d20030922f4f.xml
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000007694</issuerCik><issuerName>ASHLAND INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001077477</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HAUSRATH DAVID L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>COVINGTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>41012-0391</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President and General Cou</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2640</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1415</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401 (K)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3288</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>LESOP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-18</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-09-18</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-18</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Based on Employee Savings Plan information as of 9-18-03, the latest date for which such information is reasonably available.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares accrued under Ashland's Employee Stock Ownership Plan as of 8-31-03.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Grant of employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's Amended and Restated Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's Amended and Restated Incentive Plan  which vests in three annual installments: 50% after the 1st year, the next 25% the 2nd year and the remaining 25% the 3rd year.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding feature pursuant to the plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>M. Craig Hall</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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