And Symbol Copy and Paste (&)
Ampersand
Unicode U+0026 · HTML & · Alt code Alt+38
Tap any symbol to copy it. Each tap also adds it to the box above, so you can copy several together.
Codes for every symbol on this page (Unicode, HTML, Alt, Mac, Word)
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML | Windows Alt code | Mac | MS Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| & | Ampersand | U+0026 | & | Alt+38 | - | 0026 then Alt+X |
| ＆ | Fullwidth ampersand | U+FF06 | ＆ | - | - | FF06 then Alt+X |
| ﹠ | Small ampersand | U+FE60 | ﹠ | - | - | FE60 then Alt+X |
| ⅋ | Turned ampersand | U+214B | ⅋ | - | - | 214B then Alt+X |
| 🙰 | Script et ornament | U+1F670 | 🙰 | - | - | 1F670 then Alt+X |
The and symbol &, called the ampersand, simply means "and". You see it in shop names like "Sharma & Sons", in short notes like "Q&A", and in many company names.
Tap the copy box above to copy &, or tap the grid for the fullwidth ＆, the turned ampersand ⅋ and a fancy script version. This page covers where the ampersand symbol came from, when to use it in writing, how to type it, and its special jobs in Excel, HTML, LaTeX and logic.
Where Does the Ampersand Symbol Come From?
The & began as a joined-up way of writing the Latin word et, which means "and". Scribes wrote the letters e and t so quickly that they merged into one shape. In many fonts, especially italic ones, you can still see the e and the t inside it.
The name "ampersand" comes from how children once recited the alphabet in English schools. After Z they added &, saying "and per se and" (meaning "& by itself is 'and'"). Said fast, this became "ampersand".
When to Use the & Symbol in Writing
| Use it | Example |
|---|---|
| In official names that already use it | Mehta & Co., a law firm called Rao & Iyer |
| Fixed short forms | Q&A, R&D, B&W photo |
| Headings, tables, signboards and notes where space is short | Tea & Snacks, Terms & Conditions |
| Avoid it | Write instead |
|---|---|
| In essays, exam answers and formal letters | "Ram and Shyam went to school." |
| To start a sentence | "And then..." (or better, rephrase) |
In references with many authors, some citation styles use & before the last name (Gupta, Nair, & Das). Follow the style your college or journal asks for.
How to Type the And Symbol
- Windows and Mac (Indian, US or UK layout): press Shift+7.
- Alt code: Alt+38 on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on.
- Word: type 0026 then press Alt+X.
- Android: on most Android keyboards, tap ?123; & is on the first symbols page.
- iPhone: tap 123; & is in the second row.
The variants ＆, ﹠, ⅋ and 🙰 have no Alt code, so copy them from the grid. Need it as a picture for a wedding card or logo draft? Use the Download PNG button for a transparent and symbol PNG.
The & in Excel, HTML and LaTeX
- Excel and Google Sheets: & joins text.
=A2&" "&B2turns "Priya" and "Shah" into "Priya Shah". - HTML: & starts special codes like
©, so to show a plain ampersand on a web page you write&. - LaTeX: & separates columns in tables and aligns equations. To print an and symbol in LaTeX, type
\&. For the logical "and" sign ∧, use\landor\wedge. - Programming: in many languages, && means "and" in a condition, as in
if (age >= 18 && hasID).
And Symbol Logic: ∧ and the Truth Table
In logic, the and symbol is usually ∧, not &. The statement p ∧ q is true only when both p and q are true. Some textbooks write p & q, which means the same thing.
| p | q | p ∧ q |
|---|---|---|
| True | True | True |
| True | False | False |
| False | True | False |
| False | False | False |
The turned ampersand ⅋ (an upside-down &) is used in an advanced branch called linear logic, where it is read as "par". Find more operators on our math symbols page.
And Symbol Font Styles and P&ID Searches
The ampersand changes shape more than almost any other character. In some fonts it looks like a pretzel; in italic and script fonts it often looks like "Et". That is why designers love it, and why our grid includes the decorative 🙰. If you need a particular and symbol font look, copy the plain & and change the font in your design app.
Many engineering students search for a P&ID symbol, such as a pump symbol in P&ID, a strainer symbol in P&ID, an NRV symbol in P&ID (NRV means non-return valve) or a flow meter symbol in P&ID. P&ID stands for "piping and instrumentation diagram". Those drawing symbols come from engineering standards and drawing software, not from the keyboard, so they cannot be copied as text characters.
The ampersand sits with the other keyboard signs on our punctuation marks page. Its neighbours there include the at the rate symbol and the hashtag symbol.
Frequently asked questions
What is the & symbol called?
The & symbol is called an ampersand. It is read aloud as "and". It comes from the Latin word et, written as one joined shape.
Can I use & instead of "and" in formal writing?
Usually no. In essays, letters and exam answers, write the word "and". Keep & for names, short forms like R&D, headings and tables.
What is the and symbol in logic?
Logic and computer science write "and" as ∧ (called wedge or conjunction). Programmers often use && in code. All mean that both conditions must be true.
How do I write the and symbol in LaTeX?
Type \& to print an ampersand, because a plain & is used to separate table columns. For the logical and sign ∧, use \land or \wedge in maths mode.
Is there a space before and after &?
In names and normal text, put a space on both sides: Mehta & Co. In fixed short forms like Q&A and R&D, there are no spaces.