Ampersand is a symbol that stands for "and" in modern English. It can be traced back to the first century AD, when it was a ligature of the letters E and T ("et" is Latin for "and"). The term itself was coined in the early 19th century.

Ampersands are often used:

• Instead of "and" in informal writing
• In business names formed from partnership of two or more people — Dolce & Gabbana
• In abbreviations containing the word "and" — AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph)
• In film credits and screenplays where it has its own meaning and indicates a closer collaboration than "and," and some other cases^[1]

Because ampersands are often used in eye-catching headlines, signage, and advertisements, type designers often get creative with their designs. There are coloring books about ampersands, ampersand-a-day Tumblr blogs, and a whole cottage industry of t-shirt makers working in ampersands.^[2]