How the Ampersand (&) Came to Be

You probably know that “&” means “and,” but there is more to it than that. Let's talk about its uses and its interesting origin in this blog.

Image by Sookyung An from Pixabay

As an Unknown Graffiti

First off, the symbol “&” is a logogram, a “written or pictorial symbol intended to represent a whole word” (Britannica). It first appeared around the first-century CE as an unknown graffiti on a wall in Pompeii. It originated from the combined letters e and t, forming the Latin “et,” which means “and.” The term “ampersand,” on the other hand, has quite an interesting history.

As a Rushed Pronunciation

The “&” symbol used to be the 27th letter of the English alphabet during the 19th century. It’s being taught to children to be read as “and per se and” after the letter Z. Over time, however, people would hurry saying the phrase, leading to its rushed pronunciation as “ampersand.”

When to Use and Not to Use It

Today, the ampersand symbol is more commonly used in brand names such as Johnson & Johnson, Dolce & Gabbana, Marks & Spencer, and H&M, among others. It’s also used as an aesthetic element in logos as an added visual effect. 

It is not commonly used in formal writing content; instead, the word “and” should be used. Some style guides may also permit the use of ampersand in citations. For example, when using the American Psychological Association (APA) style, the ampersand is preferred when citing multiple authors in parenthetical and full citations. It also pays to remember that when using the ampersand in citations, it must be consistently used throughout the document. 

Although the ampersand is generally avoided in formal writing, it may be an option for social media posts, business cards, and informal communication to save space and time. 

However you use the ampersand and other English characters, The Manuscript Editor is here to ensure that your draft is polished, free from inconsistencies and misused words, and ready for the professional world to see. Book your manuscript for editing today. 

Sources: 

• ampersand by Britannica 

• The History of “Ampersand”