ELI5 Ampersand - the 27th member of the alphabet?

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Why does the ampersand exist? Why do movie credits have a specific use of the ampersand? When did it stop being the 27th member of the alphabet? What does ‘per se’ mean in the context of the ampersand? Why is the ampersand written the way it is?
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ELI5 Ampersand - the 27th member of the alphabet?

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ELI5 Ampersand - the 27th member of the alphabet?
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