ampersand
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What is an ampersand?
The ampersand (&) is a symbol that originated as a ligature of the Latin word et, meaning "and". The term "ampersand" comes from the phrase "and per se and." In the past, it was taught as the 27th letter of the alphabet to British students in the 19th century.
The symbol is used in many languages and is very common in the English-speaking business world. You can find it in brand names such as Marks & Spencer, Dolce & Gabbana, and H&M. The ampersand is also common in music (Simon & Garfunkel), music genres (R&B), and other fields such as R&D. In programming, the ampersand has uses beyond its meaning as the word "and".
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What does the ampersand symbol look like?
The ampersand is the symbol "&," a ligature of the Latin word et, meaning "and". Its aesthetic appearance varies depending on the font.
The ampersand first appeared in English in 1835 and was taught to British students as the 27th letter of the alphabet. Students recited it as "and per se and" because it stood alone. The phrase "and per se and" eventually evolved into ampersand.
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What does the ampersand symbol mean or stand for?
The ampersand symbol (&) is a visual representation of the Latin word "et," meaning "and." Its name, "ampersand," evolved from the phrase "& per se and," used when it was taught as the 27th letter of the alphabet to 19th-century British students.
The symbol’s aesthetic has varied across history, with an early form discovered in Pompeii and another found as an 8th-century version. It gained popularity during the Renaissance and is now used in multiple languages, such as e commerciale in Italian and esperluette in French.
Beyond its conventional use, the ampersand appears in business names like Marks & Spencer, musical groups such as Simon & Garfunkel, and is prevalent in computer programming.
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Where do you see ampersands used today?
The ampersand (&) is a common symbol derived from the Latin word et, meaning "and".
Today, you'll find ampersands in a variety of places:
* Business: Many company names use the ampersand, like Marks & Spencer, Dolce & Gabbana, and H&M.
* Music: Musical artists (often duos) such as Simon & Garfunkel and Ike & Tina Turner have included the ampersands in their names.
* Genres: Music genres such as R&B (rhythm and blues) and rock & roll.
* Other Fields: R&D (research and development) and F&B (food and beverage).
* Programming: In programming, the ampersand has specialized uses, such as representing special characters in SGML or indicating memory addresses in C++.
* Literature: In literature, it is sometimes used in bibliographies when listing coauthors.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How was the ampersand first created or invented?
The ampersand symbol (&) originated as a ligature of the Latin word et, meaning "and." The oldest known form was discovered in Pompeii. This initial ampersand joined the letters e and t.
The term "ampersand" came about because the symbol was the 27th letter of the alphabet in the 1800s. Students recited it as "and per se and" (& by itself is the word and). Over time, "and per se and" was shortened to ampersand.
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How is the ampersand used differently in formal writing versus casual writing?
The ampersand (&) is a symbol derived from the Latin word et, meaning "and".
Formal Writing
In formal writing, it is generally recommended to spell out "and" instead of using the ampersand. The ampersand may be appropriate in citations or parenthetical references.
Casual Writing
In casual writing, the ampersand is widely accepted and used for brevity. It is common in company names (e.g., Marks & Spencer), music groups (e.g., Simon & Garfunkel), and abbreviated terms (e.g., R&B).
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ampersand, term used to refer to the symbol &, which stems from the ligature of the Latin word et, meaning “and.” The term ampersand is derived from “and per se and.” The symbol has also been used as part of &c in lieu of etc. (et cetera). The aesthetic features of the symbol vary according to the font and variants chosen, although the roman type has prevailed. One of the most popular signs in the English-speaking world, the ampersand is also used in other languages; for example, it is the Italian e commerciale, the Spanish y comercial, the Portuguese e comercial, the French esperluette, the German Et-Zeichen, and the Swedish et-tecken.
In 1953 German graphic designer Jan Tschichold compiled a history of the multiple versions of the ampersand, ending his account with forms used in the late 19th century. His history includes what is thought to be the oldest form of the ampersand, which was discovered in Pompeii, as well as an 8th-century version that is similar to the current versions of the symbol. The ampersand gained popularity during the Renaissance, as scribes associated it with the splendour of ancient Rome and incorporated it in roman and italic lettering. This version of the ampersand paved the way for the modern italic form of the symbol. However, the Tironian shorthand for et, which was devised by Cicero’s servant Marcus Tullius Tiro in the 1st century bce, was prevalent in the black-letter manuscripts that dominated German books throughout the 19th century. Its use was gradually abandoned by most languages by the end of the 19th century, with the notable exception of Gaelic, in which the symbol continues to be used in the early 21st century.
The term ampersand first appeared in the English language in 1835 and was used as a letter in its own right. It was taught as the 27th letter of the alphabet, after z, to 19th-century British students, who recited it as “and per se and,” owing to its stand-alone nature (Latin per se means “by itself”). (This mirrored the practice of a and I, which, because of their use as words in their own right, led to the usage “and per se a” and “and per se I,” respectively.) The inarticulate pronunciation of “and per se and” fostered several corruptions, such as “Ann Passy Ann,” but “ampersand” eventually became the norm. It was featured in nursery rhymes about the alphabet; one such ended “X, Y, and ampersand / All wished for a piece in hand.” The symbol, however, ceased to be part of the English alphabet by the late 19th century.
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The ampersand pervades the English-speaking business world. Brands that have included it in their names include Marks & Spencer, Procter & Gamble, Tiffany & Co., AT&T, Holland & Barrett, and M&M’S. The symbol can also be found in brands beyond the anglophone sphere, such as the Italian Dolce & Gabbana and Paul&Shark, the Swiss Lindt & Sprüngli AG, the Swedish H&M, and the Spanish Pull&Bear. Reasons for its widespread popularity among executives include search engine optimization, concision, and brand recall.
Several musical artists, often duos, have included the ampersand in their names—for example, Simon & Garfunkel, Ike & Tina Turner, Hall & Oates, and Brooks & Dunn. The symbol is also used in the names of music genres such as R&B (rhythm and blues) and rock & roll, and its use in other fields is exemplified by R&D (research and development) and F&B (food and beverage). In literature, it is sometimes used in bibliographies when listing coauthors.
The ampersand also plays a significant role in programming, where its use can go beyond its original meaning. In SGML, for instance, it is used with other symbols to represent a special character. For example, the at sign (@) is encoded by means of @, while © is used for the © symbol. Some coding languages use two ampersands together (&&) as a reference to the “and” Boolean operator. In the C++ programming language, the ampersand refers to an address in memory. The ampersand itself is encoded by means of & or &.