Autograph Vs Signature, Are These The Same? When To Use

There are multiple ways to say something in the English language. For example, words that mean the same but have different writing are called synonyms. In addition, there are cases where the words mean the same but are used in a different context. In this article, we will present two of those words and how they are the same, also in which context we should use each of them.

An autograph and a signature are, in essence, the same thing. Both terms are synonyms; the difference between the two words is when each is used. For example, the term autograph is used when the person writing their name is a star. When it is not a star that writes their name, it is called a signature.

Definition

An autograph is when someone famous, admired by many, puts his/her name/signature in a written souvenir for a fan.

Another definition of autograph is when referring to a document that has been written in the author’s handwriting. Simply put, the person who created the document is the one who writes or rewrites it.

The oldest “autograph” might be the one in a Sumerian clay tablet from about 3100 BC that has the name of the scribe Gar Ama. Other than the Sumerian one, there have not been any other findings of older “autographs.” The first historical figure that stamped their autograph was EL Cid in 1098, which is the earliest known sample.

The word signature, on the other hand, has multiple meanings:

• The use of a specific way of writing a name will be used to authorize something.
• When you write your name always in the same way, to indicate that something is of your property (intellectual or physical) or that you agree with something.
• When we want to reference something that someone is recognized for or that a place is recognized for, we call that a signature of that person or business.
• When we want to describe the number one characteristic of a product or service that a company is known for, we call that a signature.

It is safe to say that both terms are the same. The difference between an autograph and a signature is the context in which it is used. For example, when we talk about someone famous putting their name on a piece of paper, we call that an autograph. If, on the other hand, the person putting their name on a piece of paper is not admired by multitudes, then we call that a signature.

Another difference between a signature and an autograph is that the first one does not need to be legible in order to be legally valid. In contrast, the autograph needs to be at least understandable to the fans requesting it and should be different from the signature.

Let us create a scenario to explain why it is vital for famous people to have a signature and an autograph different from one another.

A famous writer has a signature for signing legal documents. For the fans, the writer uses a full name mark (autograph). If in a rush, the writer makes his/her mark quickly on a piece of paper provided by their fans. Still, it is different from their legal signature. Even if the piece mentioned above is some legal document, like a contract or an agreement, the validity of that paper in court will be minimal.

On the other hand, if the autograph is the same as the signature for legal documents, someone can make it seem as if the writer agrees to something, when in fact, they did not agree.

Origin And Evolution Of The Words

The origin of the word signature comes from the 1530s, referring to a document in Scottish Law.

Another origin of the word signature can be found in the French language, with the word “Signature” or the Latin “signatura” that means “a rescript.”

The origin of the term autograph comes from the French “autographe.” However, the word autograph could also have its origins in the Latin word “autographum,” which means written with someone’s own hands. This last is also the meaning of the Greek word “autographos.”

Synonyms

Every language has different ways of saying the same thing. These are words or phrases that have the same or similar meaning as others. This section will present other words and phrases that hold identical meanings as the terms autograph and signature.

• Cosignatory: means signing a document with another person.
• Endorsement: giving someone your approval or support verbally or by writing, usually with a signature.
• Inscription: means to write on something, a mark or name.
• Stamp: it is a mark that you put on a document. The stamping can be done in two ways: printing directly onto the form or pushing it into the paper.
• Trademark is the name or symbol representing a brand, product, or even a person.

Antonyms

Just as it is common to hear words that essentially mean the same thing, some words have the opposite meaning. This is called an antonym. Next, we will present a list of words that mean the opposite of the terms autograph and signature.

• Disapproval: if signing a document makes it approved, a document’s disapproval is the absence of a signature, therefore an antonym.
• Refusal: same principle as disapproval.
• Forgery: means an illegal copy of someone’s signature, document, etc.

Examples Of Both Terms

This section will present multiple sentences that will serve as examples using the terms signature and autograph.

• All the documents for the project need to have the project manager’s signature.
• I got an autograph from Lionel Andres Messi on my FC Barcelona T-shirt.
• A digital signature and a traditional one are the same nowadays.
• I thought it was your signature, and now the letter went to somebody else.
•  Under the line where your signature goes, you need to put your name as well.
•  We are presenting in our show tonight boxing gloves that Rocky Marciano used, and they have his autograph.
• It is illegal to copy someone else’s signature. Therefore, I am not going to do it.
• The way he wrote his signature at the bottom of the page was simply unreadable.
• My favorite restaurant has a signature dish, and that is lasagna.
• The most prominent clothing brand from the past is still working on creating pieces in their signature style.
• This credit card receipt needs your signature.
• The petition required five hundred signatures to be valid at city hall.
• During the concert preview, there were a lot of autograph seekers waiting for a chance.
• She is a superstar, and we wanted her autograph so much.
• On game days, the outside of the stadium is always full of autograph seekers.
• From the moment we crossed the door, the little boys’ faces lit up and started asking for autographs.
• I know you like his music. When will you have a better chance to get his autograph?
• She is such a superstar and a professional. Even after the concert and the crazy weather, she spent forty-five minutes signing autographs for her fans.
• He confused me with some famous singer and asked for my autograph. It was a weird situation.

Conclusion

A rich vocabulary is one of the most prominent characteristics of the English language. In English, there are so many words that mean the same thing and have different writing. Those words are called synonyms.

In the article, we presented a different type of synonym. But, of course, the words autograph and signature are at their core the same. Nevertheless, we can see another aspect of the language with them, which is context.

A context is a set of circumstances that supports an idea and forms its surroundings, making it understandable in its totality.

With that being said, context is the difference between using the term autograph and the term signature. Autograph is to be used in the context of someone famous stamping their name, while the signature is stamping a name but done by a “normal” person.