An electrical connector is provided for insulation displacing termination of ribbon cable having conductors in predetermined close centerline spacing. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face, an opposed cable-receiving face and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between the faces for receiving a plurality of terminals. Each terminal includes a mating portion toward the mating face and slotted U-shaped insulation displacement portion toward the cable-receiving face. The insulation displacement portions of the terminals are arranged staggered in at least two rows. A dielectric cover forces the conductors into the U-shaped insulation displacement portions and embraces the cable between the cover and the cable-receiving face of the housing. The cover includes a surface for engaging the cable and holes in the surface for receiving the U-shaped insulation displacement portions of the terminals. Recessed areas are provided adjacent the holes in the cover which receive the insulation displacement portions of the terminals. Therefore, the conductors on opposite sides of any given conductor being terminated can float into the recessed areas as a respective insulation displacement portion is forced into termination with the given conductor.