Initialed and signed

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Deepurple

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Dear all,

Would you kindly tell me what the difference between "initialed and signed"? In my impression, the two words are the same in meaning. I may be wrong.

Thank you.
 

kenkk2

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Dear all,

Would you kindly tell me what the difference between "initialed and signed"? In my impression, the two words are the same in meaning. I may be wrong.

Thank you.

Not a teacher.
IMO, they have the same act but different way.
You might know what "sign" means, then "initial"(the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit) requires the same act :To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
 

Munch

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They are a little different.

"Initialed" can mean to just sign your "initials", the first (initial) letters of your name, usually just first and last names. This might be done on each page of a business contract, or where a printed contract has editted by hand.

"Signed" means to sign your full signature, which is almost always more than just the initial letters. This is usually done on cheques or at the end of a business contract.

For example, for someone called Bob Edward Jones might sign and initial this way (although there are many ways to sign):

Initial: BJ
Sign: B E Jones or Bob Jones
 
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