Ampersand

logogram representing the conjunction word "and"

The ampersand (&), also referred to as the and sign, is a logogram (a diagram standing for a word).

Ampersand
&
∧, ۽, ⅋, &, et, 🙰, 🙱, 🙲, 🙳, 🙴, 🙵, Ɛ̸,
Variations of the Ampersand in different fonts.
Usage
Writing systemLatin script
TypeLogographic
and Ideographic
Language of originLatin language
Unicode valueU+0026
Alphabetical position(27)
History
Development
𐌄𐌕
Time period~100 to present
Descendants • ⅋
SistersϏ/ϗ (ligature of κ, α and ι in a similar fashion to &)
Transliteration equivalents+
۽
Variations∧, ۽, ⅋, &, et, 🙰, 🙱, 🙲, 🙳, 🙴, 🙵, Ɛ̸,
Other
Other letters commonly used with&C (etC)

It represents the Latin conjunction et, which means and. The ampersand symbol is not only a logogram, but also a ligature. It joins the old handwritten Latin letters e and t of the word et, so that the word is represented as a single glyph.[1]

With a c added on it means "et cetera", "and so on".

In everyday writing, the ampersand is sometimes written like a reversed 3 with a vertical line through it.[2]

References

change
  1. "The ampersand & more" with Kory Stamper, part of the "Ask the Editor" video series at Merriam-Webster.com
  2. A Visual Guide to the Ampersand (Infographic)