If you’ve ever wondered about the swirly, whirly symbol that is used to represent the word “and,” this article is for you. It’s one of the most well-known symbols in the world, and quite a few languages and cultures use it. We’re going to talk about the ampersand meaning, a brief history of the ampersand, and its proper usage.
What is an Ampersand?
An ampersand is this symbol: &. It’s a symbol used to replace the word “and.” It started out as a combination of the letters e and t because the Latin for “and” is “et.” That’s why sometimes people write “&c” instead of “etc” for et cetera.
The reason the ampersand is used in so many different languages (at least six, per Britannica) is probably because it came from the Roman Empire, whose habits of conquering other cultures spread their own practices far and wide.
So why don’t we just call it the “and symbol”? Where on earth did the word “ampersand” come from? Well, it comes from a time when this pleasing little symbol enjoyed a spot on the roster as the last letter of the English alphabet.
When kids were spelling something out in lessons, they would show that a letter stood on its own by saying “per se (letter).” For example, to indicate the letter “a” on its own, they’d recite “per se a.”
Because the symbol was at the very end, these young pupils would say “and per se and.” Over time, this phrase morphed into “ampersand.”
The ampersand only enjoyed its spot in the alphabet for a few decades – it was the 27th letter of the alphabet. By the late 1800s, it had joined the dictionary as a word in its own right, and z once again became the English alphabet’s caboose.
When to Use An Ampersand?
Graphic designers really love ampersands because they are such a fun shape (and different fonts are so distinct from each other). However, writers can enjoy using ampersands in several different situations as well.
1. Names and Titles
Think about it: M&Ms. Johnson & Johnson. Dolce & Gabbana. We could go on! People use ampersands in names of companies, titles, products, and more because it is elegant and space-saving. Also, as we’ll discuss in a minute, in certain situations, “&” implies a stronger relationship than “and.”
Examples:
1. Abercrombie & Fitch
2. Goodyear Tire & Rubber
3. H&M2. Lists
Some items go together and already have “and” in their names., like ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly. For this instance, you can use the ampersand symbol to minimize confusion, especially when you list them together.
Examples:
1. I like ham & cheese, peanut butter & jelly, and salmon & cheese.
2. My favorite sandwich is ham & cheese.3. Abbreviations
Speaking of sandwiches, the ampersand helps with abbreviations, too. For example, “peanut butter and jelly” becomes the satisfyingly succinct “PB&J.” It can also help businesses with long names get shorter. American Telephone and Telegraph has become the much catchier and current-sounding “AT&T.”
Examples:
1. PB&J
2. AT&T
3. Procter & Gamble becomes P&G
4. R&B (rhythm and blues)
5. R&D (research and development)4. APA Citations
The American Psychological Association’s writing conventions are referred to as APA style. Ampersands are used in two situations when you are writing in APA style. The first is when you are citing a source in parentheses with multiple authors, such as “(Fozzie, Kermit & Gonzo).” The second situation is listing multiple authors in a full citation in your bibliography.
Examples:
Bryson, B., & Einstein, A. (2011). A short history of nearly everything. Digital Publ.
Kim, J.-E., Kessler, L., McCauley, Z., Niiyama, I., & Boyle, L. N. (2020). Human factors considerations in designing a personalized mobile dialysis device: An interview study. Applied Ergonomics, 85, 103003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2019.1030035. Informal Writing
If you are writing for an informal audience, you are officially cleared to use the ampersand whenever you feel like it. Writing a diary entry? Use it to your heart’s content. Writing a letter or an instant message to a close friend? Absolutely go nuts. Social media posts, comic books, and text messages are also informal enough to allow the most liberal use of the ampersand.
Examples:
1. Jimmy & all of them are coming tonight.
2. Dear Mom, Dad & Pat:
3. Merry & Bright: Check out the best sales of the season!6. Screenwriters
The ampersand meaning has a particular use for screenplays. When you write, for example, “Apple and Cherry,” it implies that the two individuals both worked on a screenplay separately. However, if you write “Apple & Cherry,” that indicates they worked on it together.
Examples:
1. Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh
2. Lana & Lilly WachowskiWhen Not to Use an Ampersand
While the ampersand has quite a few situations when you should use it, there are a few times when you need to hold off. It’s hard to resist the succinct “&” symbol, we know. However, in the following situations, you should use “and” instead.
1. With Oxford Comma
If you are writing an article, story, or other piece of writing that employs the Oxford comma (or serial comma), you should use the word “and” instead of the ampersand. Most types of writing use the Oxford comma – one notable exception is the Associated Press (AP) style, which journalists use.
Example:
Wrong: Her favorite colors were pink, purple, & blue.
Correct: Her favorite colors were pink, purple, and blue. In Formal Writing
Another situation where you should resist the siren call of the curvy ampersand is formal writing. Formal writing includes business writing, academic writing, and formal letters. It also includes work like job applications.
Example:
Wrong: My skills include Martian language proficiency, spacewalking, & shuttle repair.
Correct: My skills include Martian language proficiency, spacewalking, and shuttle repair. Final Thoughts
The ampersand may no longer be a member of the letters of the alphabet, but it still has many valuable uses in typography and writing. We hope this article has answered all of your questions about the meaning of the ampersand. Hopefully, you can now go forth and use the ampersand with confidence!
