How and When to Use an Ampersand

Do you know how and when to use an ampersand (&)? Whether you’re a language lover, a typography enthusiast, or just curious about this quirky little symbol, you’re certain to learn something new from our blog post!

We’ll go over everything you need to know, including:

1. When to use an ampersand
2. When not to use an ampersand
3. How to use an ampersand

What Is an Ampersand?

An ampersand is a typographical symbol representing the word and. It often appears in informal writing and is common in brand, product, and business names. The ampersand was originally a combination of the letters e and t, otherwise recognized as the Latin word et, which translates to and. It entered the English language in the 1700s. By the early 1800s, it became the English alphabet’s 27th letter.

At that time, however, the ampersand was named and. As it was confusing to end the alphabet with “x, y, z, and and,” people would instead say, “x, y, z, and per se and” – per se meaning by itself. Over time, and per se and was shortened to ampersand.

When to Use an Ampersand

1. Names and Titles

Names and titles (e.g., of companies, movies, books, and products) commonly use the ampersand. It saves space on billboards, product packaging, or movie posters.

Dolce & Gabbana; Lilo & Stitch; M&Ms; Hall & Oates; Ben & Jerry’s.

2. Lists

While you usually use and as a coordinating conjunction before the last item in a list (e.g., oranges, apples, and pears), sometimes items already contain the word and. To prevent confusion, replace the and in the list items with an ampersand and write the final and as your coordinating conjunction.

My favorite sandwiches are egg & cress, salmon & cream cheese, and beef & horseradish.

3. Abbreviations

Some word pairings appear together frequently enough to warrant an ampersand between them. Over time, they became abbreviated to make them easier to say.

Q & A (questions and answers); R & D (research and development); PB & J (peanut butter and jelly); B & B (bed and breakfast).

4. APA Citations

APA uses the ampersand for parenthetical citations within the text and references with multiple authors.

Parenthetical citation: According to a study (Jones, Smith, & Lee, 2019), the use of technology in the classroom significantly impacts student learning.

Reference: Jones, R., Smith, T., & Lee, K. (2019). The impact of technology on student learning. Journal of Educational Technology, 12(2), 43–56.

When Not to Use an Ampersand

1. In Formal Writing (With Exceptions)

Unless you’re using ampersands in academic citations, company names, or official titles, they are frowned upon in formal writing. Instead, spell out the word and.

Incorrect: I am writing to inform you of our promotions & deals.

Correct: I am writing to inform you of our promotions and deals.

2. With Oxford Commas

An ampersand with an Oxford comma (or serial comma) can look strange. Although the symbol means and, it still looks awkward next to a comma. Try to avoid this as much as possible.

Incorrect: I enjoy reading, hiking, & cooking.

Correct: I enjoy reading, hiking, and cooking.

How to Use an Ampersand

As already mentioned, the ampersand replaces and. Generally, use spacing around the symbol as you would with the word. However, if an official name or title doesn’t use spacing, use the spacing that the name uses. You can always check your client’s style guide for confirmation.

Incorrect: She loves rock&roll.

Correct: AT&T is a cell service provider.

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