“Autograph” vs. “Signature”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “autograph” and “signature”

  • Autographs are most often associated with famous individuals giving their autographs to fans, while most people have signatures they use to sign legal forms.
  • While both words refer to written marks made by a person, autographs tend to be more personal and often have sentimental value, while signatures are typically used for practical and legal purposes.
  • Autographs are often associated with famous individuals, while signatures are a ubiquitous aspect of everyday life.
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What is the definition of “autograph” and “signature”?

Autograph
  • An autograph is a famous individual's signature or handwriting, which can be kept or sold as a souvenir.
  • An autograph is often associated with celebrities, and it can be a valuable collectible for fans or collectors.
  • It is often kept as a memento by fans of the famous individual.
Signature
  • A signature is a person's name or mark written by themselves as a form of identification or as an endorsement of a document.
  • Signatures can vary in style, but they are generally considered legally binding and necessary for many official documents, such as contracts or deeds.
  • A signature is an individual's name written in cursive in a distinct style that cannot be easily replicated.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Signature” is the more popular variant on the web.
Autograph
51,200,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I was fortunate enough to get an autograph from my favorite actor.
  2. The book is more valuable with the author's autograph on it.
  3. The eager fans waited outside the stadium to get an autograph from the famous football player.
More popular
Signature
1,040,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Make sure you sign the contract with your signature in blue ink.
  2. The artist added her signature to the bottom-right corner of the painting.
  3. The check will not be valid unless it bears the customer's signature.
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