Ampersands

[geb]

I was wondering if there is a difference between ampersands and the "&" symbol of the font you are using. Do you use Ampersands or the & symbol? Is there an advantage to using Ampersands? Maybe a dumb question, I just don't know much about them, thanks for any feedback.

George

 

[Fred Weiss]

To the best of my knowledge they're one & the same.

 

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

I thought so too- it's the little useful symbol that used to follow at the end of an alphabet, meaning 'and', and was named by recounting the whole alphabet, then "and, per-se 'and'", (which means a to z, and which follows the 'and' symbol), so "and per-se 'and'" became ampersand, and it began life looking like the conjoined latin word "et" which means 'and'.

That's my recollection anyhow.I'll stand corrected if someone nhs a better story! (& no it's not Mr Amper's 'and' either!)

 

[geb]

Thanks, always wondered what it stood for.

George

 

[striper14]

wow, you learn something new every day.....and per-se "and".... why didn't i see that before
very impressive

 

[MAB SIGNS]

Thats a good story Ian, and better than it being named after who created it. I'm still trying to find that Mr. Murphy to ask him about his law. hehe

Mark

 

[bullseye000]

That's partially true. The symbol itself "&" is a combination of the two letters of the latin word "et" which translates to "and", as in ora et labor or work and prayer.