Lately, in the archive, I've been seeing "General" along with het or slash pairings in the labeling for the same fic.
This is incorrect.
"General" means no romance. If you need to add labeling for a het or slash pairing, you no longer have a gen story. It is a het or slash story.
I know it can get tricky sometimes, especially if you're writing about characters who have a romantic relationship in canon, to choose between gen and het. You shouldn't be expected to ignore canonical elements, but it can be difficult to determine when the story is "about" the relationship and when it isn't. When in doubt, it's better to ask.
Questions? Contact any admin or moderator.
Thank you.