p.p.

[londonpenguin]

I’ve been reading “The Complete Henry Root Letters” (v. funny) and was reminded of a question I had when I worked for an attorney who did some business with a law firm in London. What does “p.p.” mean by a signature block on business correspondence? For example, the signature block looks like this:

Yours sincerely,


Margaret Thatcher

But Maggie herself has not signed the letter, one of her minions has, and has written “p.p.” next to the typed-out “Margaret Thatcher.” I’m thinking it’s an abbreviation for something Latin, but I don’t know what. Does anyone know?

 

[UKDEB]

Hi londonpenguin!

<b>pp</b> is short for <b>per pro</b> which in itself is short for <b>per procurationem</b>. Anyone any good at Latin? I can work out that per must mean 'for', but you're on your own with the rest!

 

[UKDEB]

Well, I've looked a bit further in my dictionary and here's what I've found:

<b>procuration</b> <i>noun, law, dated</i> the appointment, authority, or action of an attorney.
-Origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin <i>procuratio(n-)</i>, from <i>procurare</i> 'attend to, take care of';

and

<b>procurator</b> <i>noun, law</i> an agent representing others in a court of law in countries retaining Roman civil law.
-Origin Middle English (denoting a steward): from Old French <i>procuratour</i> or Latin <i>procurator</i> 'administrator, finance agent'.

Any the wiser?

 

[londonpenguin]

Thanks, Debbie! It means pretty much what I thought, which is "by agency" or "by proxy." So, I suppose it means, if you expand it a bit, "I'm signing this letter at the direction of Margaret Thatcher, even though I'm not her." Or something like that anyway.

Thanks!

 

[WDWfan uk]

Yes, it means someone else is signing in the other person's place with that other person's consent.

 

[drennan]

I find it usually means, the boss can't be bothered to sign his own name, so his poor secretary or assistant has to do it for them making them feel superior (lol)

ttfn

 

[londonpenguin]

You are soooooo right, Debbie! I occasionally sign letters for my boss, but usually it's "Sent without signature to avoid delay." Yeah, "to avoid delay": like it's a desperately important letter that simply cannot WAIT!