<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-04-000007
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031231
<FILING-DATE>20040102
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SCHAEFER GEORGE A JR
<CIK>0001195811
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-02918
<FILM-NUMBER>04501480
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ANTHEM INC.
<STREET2>120 MONUMENT CIRCLE
<CITY>INDIANAPOLIS
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46204
</BUSINESS-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>c0001195811d20040102f4f.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>0001195811</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SCHAEFER GEORGE A JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>FIFTH THIRD BANCORP.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>38 FOUNTAIN SQUARE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>45263</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>317</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>44.06</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1513</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><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></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares of stock issued in lieu of fees.</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></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>M. Craig Hall</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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