WORLD AMPERSAND DAY | September 8
Each year on September 8, we celebrate the fun & functional curly & quirky little character on World Ampersand Day.
#AmpersandDay
From jotting a shorthand “and” to branding corporate names, this curvy, strange character is ubiquitously useful. It’s also quite aesthetic, as you’ll see at AmperArt.com, featuring “the ampersand as fun & fabulous art.”
To acknowledge & applaud this great little glyph, World Ampersand Day is observed annually on September 8th. To find out why this date was chosen, read here.
DID YOU KNOW…
- The ampersand used to be the last letter of the alphabet?
- It is a ligature of “e” & “t”? That’s “et” in Latin, meaning “and”?
- The word “ampersand” is a slurring of “real words” run together over time?
- The plus sign is actually an ampersand?
Discover more interesting facts about the ampersand — including details on those you just read — & see “the ampersand as fun & fabulous art” at AmperArt.com.
& THIS IS A CELEBRATION
Celebrate the day by having fun with the ampersand:
- Use lots & lots of ampersands!
- Substitute “&” for “and” in everything you write.
- Think of syllable replacements such as &roid, c&elabra, b&.
- Send friends whose names contain “and” a special note — &y, &rea, Alex&er, Gr&ma.
- Design new styles of ampersands. (Remember, the ampersand represents the letters “et.”)
- Visit AmperArt.com.
Use #AmpersandDay on social media.
Do want to learn more about the ampersand (other than it’s fun to say)? Check out these 7 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Ampersand to find out more. Can you think of more?
Visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for projects & ideas to help you Celebrate Every Day!
AMPERART
Chaz DeSimone founded World Ampersand Day in 2015. His monthly design project, AmperArt.com, features “the ampersand as fun & fabulous art.”
Ampersand FAQ
Q. Is it ok to use an ampersand in a book title?
A. Creative works such as books with the word “and” in the title often use the ampersand on the cover art because it creates intriguing design. However, to maximize the search capabilities of the publication, the “and” will be spelled out in digital documents. Look to the title & Sons by David Gilbert to make this point clear.
Q. Is the ampersand trademarked?
A. Yes & no. Several trademarks include the ampersand in the designs. Some companies also include the word “ampersand” in the company name, like Ampersand Art Supply Company, for example. Custom typefaces & fonts may be copyrighted & often include an ampersand in the collection. However, only the name of the collection can be trademarked.
