Definition: The typographic symbol used to designate the word and (& ) is the Latin symbol for et which means and. The name, ampersand , is believed to be derived from the phrase "and per se and." On a standard English layout keyboard the ampersand (&) is accessed with shift+7. In many fonts the ampersand looks much like a cursive S or a curvy plus sign but in other fonts you can almost see the word Et in the design of the ampersand.
Also Known As: & | and
Examples:
In the accompanying graphic: Top: Two "S-like" ampersands, Bottom: ampersand that looks like a plus sign with a small loop, ampersand that echoes its origins as Et. These are some of the most common typographic renditions of the ampersand.
