How to Use an Ampersand
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
How to Use an Ampersand
The ampersand (the “&” symbol) is an unusual feature of the English language. It supposedly has survived in a limited form since the days of the Roman Empire. Despite the mark’s longevity, people may still sometimes have questions about when and how to use it.
In formal writing, use of the ampersand to replace the word “and” is typically not encouraged. However, as we’ll see in a moment, the mark still has a function within specific formal references, as well as a couple of everyday purposes within informal writing. In today’s post we’ll consider how to put the ampersand to work those contexts.
How to Use an Ampersand: Three Applications
The word ampersand is a shortened version of “and per se and,” and it denotes things that go together.
Generally speaking, there are three ways in which you might use an ampersand:
As part of an official name (formal and informal). Many businesses and enterprises incorporate the ampersand into their official names. One well-known example is the famous jeweler Tiffany & Co. You may see it on storefront signs for business names such as Miller & Associates or Foxx & Sons as well.
In these instances the ampersand shows that the parties go together while also shortening the overall name of the partnership or enterprise.
As part of a descriptive clause (informal). When several items are listed together, an ampersand may be used to tie together words or descriptions that would otherwise be less clear. For example, you might write: My favorite breakfasts are donuts, pancakes, biscuits & gravy, and bacon & eggs.
The purpose of the ampersand here is to avoid having to write “and” repeatedly in a way that might make the sentence difficult to follow.
As shorthand for “and” (informal). Perhaps the most frequent use of an ampersand is as a substitute for the word “and.” This can be helpful when you are writing quickly or you need to make space. This use of the ampersand is an informal one that shouldn’t be overdone, but occasionally you might use the symbol to save character space on paper; simply use proper judgment concerning your document.
If a series of three or more items includes an ampersand in place of the word and, including an Oxford comma after the ampersand is a matter of writer style and preference, although some may feel that omission of the comma looks better typographically:
The company’s new name is Riley, Jeffers, & Sterns.
The company’s new name is Riley, Jeffers & Sterns.
For further insight into the use of the ampersand in formal writing, see our post & What About the Ampersand?
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I want to label food that I’m serving. I have room on the tags to do it either way. Should I use: 1. Fish and Grits, 2. Fish & Grits, or 3. Fish&Grits (without spaces)?
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Either the first or second would be acceptable.
I want a label. Should I write “Fruity & Cocoa & Vanilla cake” or “Fruity, Cocoa & vanilla cake”? Please advise.
Your treatment would depend on what should be clearly described. For example, is it:
Fruity, cocoa & vanilla cake? (the cake is all three flavors)
Fruity-cocoa & vanilla cake? (the cake is vanilla and fruity cocoa)
Fruity cocoa-vanilla cake? (cocoa-vanilla cake that is fruity)
Fruity cocoa & vanilla cake? (cocoa and vanilla cake that is fruity)
I have a sub-title on a book that reads…
200+ Games, Activities & Prompts for…
Should it read…
200+ Games, Activities, & Prompts for…
OR
200+ Games, Activities, and Prompts for…
Thanks in advance for your clarification.
Either of the following is acceptable:
200+ Games, Activities, and Prompts for …
200+ Games, Activities & Prompts for …
Is it okay to start a sentence (informal) with an ampersand?
We do not recommend starting a sentence with a symbol or numeral; however, informal writing does not always follow grammatical rules.
If not using an ampersand in formal texts, what should one use when writing “and” several times in one sentence? For example:
“…learning mentalization, storytelling, statistics, product characteristics and verbal- & social skills to prospect, create and reinforce demand for a valuable but complex product.”
Also, can one use the hyphen in combination with an ampersand instead of with “and” as above?
You could write the following:
“…learning mentalization, storytelling, statistics, and product characteristics, in addition to verbal and social skills, to prospect, create, and reinforce demand for a valuable but complex product.”
A hyphen would not be used here. See our Rules for Hyphens.
Is there a grammar rule for a line breaking before or after an ampersand when a formal name is presented on two lines?
I can only find line-break usage in relation to UX and writing code.
We would first determine if there’s anything that could be done to keep the text with the ampersand together (e.g., stack the lines):
The Story Behind the Stories
on Sanford & Son
Otherwise we believe it’s better form to break after the ampersand:
The Producers of Sanford &
Son Tell Their Stories
Is this the correct use of the ampersand?
Murrell has not worked at all this pay period, so if you want you can go ahead & term her.
The ampersand is used correctly; however, as the post indicates, use of the ampersand as shorthand for “and” is informal. We do not recommend using it in formal communication.
Is this the correct use of the ampersand?
Compelled by a deep crisis of authority, one key purpose of texts & discourses is to set calculated spaces of political negotiations.
As the post states, using the ampersand in this way is fine if you are writing informally. We recommend using the word and in formal writing.
I take it that an ampersand is mainly for informal use, and for formal text such as a quote, passage, statement, or thesis, it would be placed inside parentheses: (Smith & Jones, 2024). Within the formal content itself, the proper conjunction would be used instead of the ampersand: Smith and Jones (2024).
In the case of your example, if the official name includes an ampersand, it should be used in both the content and the citation.