It's okay to use an ampersand (&) any time you don't feel like writing out the word "and."
The ampersand (&) is an often over-used abbreviation for the word and. Its use should be limited to a few situations.
We use an ampersand:
- in certain company names; e.g. Smith & Jones Consulting;
- if space is very limited; e.g. in a table with a lot of text;
- when artistic considerations dictate; e.g. a logo; and
- in some academic references; e.g. (Grant & Smith, 1998).
Do not use an ampersand in general writing simply to abbreviate the word and. For example, we write:
- We need to reorder toner cartridges and paper.
not:
- We need to reorder toner cartridges & paper.
More Info:
www.betterwritingskills.com
What are your thoughts on this subject?
69 Comments
Richard Jamieson
& by whose decree is this nonsense?
Fleuriefirst
To say something is, or is not, okay when referring to language practices is arcane. Language evolves!
skullfire
Opinion, this question should be removed.
Suzy
Not a grammatical basis. Irrelevant question based on opinion
Kath Thomson
acks, the info was not really that informative. The ampersand can be used in any informal writing like your shopping list, adverstisements, posts on social media, blogs etc. But you will never see it in books, magazines, newspapers, letters from insurance, your lawyer, your city council or research articles. The ampersand is not used in formal writing.
Kath Thomson
Peggy Tinsley, and nobody says you can't if it is in informal writing. But you'll never see it in books, magazines, newspaper articles, company letters or Phd theses. This is an unwritten rule for formal writing.
Kath Thomson
Suzy, not on opinion. Ever seen an ampersand in a published book, magazine, thesis or company letter? Formal writing does not use &, only informal.
Kath Thomson
Fleuriefirst, maybe but in this case it still holds true. Basically & is only used informally but not in formal writing like books, magazines, company letters, formal documents etc.
Kath Thomson
In other words we should only use & in informal writing but not in formal writing. It's not used in a novel, formal letter (eg from your bank, city council or Insurance company) or a published research thesis.
Marilyn Mumper Fisher
Very poorly worded. True/false are opinions, not grammatical law.
Susan Lake-Harris
Sorry - no. If I'm in a hurry, it's absolutely okay for me to use &, regardless of how much space I might have. :)
earlepg
Couldn't bring the article up to see what authority might have been used. In general, though, I've been known to use the ampersand, but only sparingly and following pretty much the same "rules" set here.
Vance Duncan
Opinion, but I agree. 😎
Robert Oldenburg
Depends on context. Formal situations no, informal ok.
Elsy O. Stromberg
It's rarely used in my experience. I only use it when writing a check to AT&T.
Emma Clements
Did Strunk & White approve this question?
Player
Written by grammar experts who will probably also insist on the use of an Oxford comma.
Peter de Loriol
Complete and utter billhooks! I have used an ampersand since my time at school, 11-18, and further education. I was never penalised over it, especially by my english teachers and lecturers in Uni. Now, the real problem is how many people can write a recognisable Ampersand!
rkcorrigan
In today's world, I'd say it's common place to use an "&" in place of the word "and". This is probably a rule out of an older "writing etiquette" publications.