<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-04-000004
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031231
<FILING-DATE>20040102
<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>04501454
</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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001097587d20040102f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</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>CUMMINS ENGINE COMPANY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>500 JACKSON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>COLUMBUS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>47202</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>1000</value></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="F1"/></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="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>397</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>44.06</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>397</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9856</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">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="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 12-31-03, 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>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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