When you see “pp” next to a signature, it almost always means the person is signing on behalf of someone else, not for themselves.

Quick meaning

  • “pp” stands for the Latin phrase per procurationem or per procura , meaning “through the agency of” or “by proxy,” i.e., “on behalf of.”
  • It’s used when an assistant, colleague, or other authorized person signs a letter or document for the actual responsible person.

How it looks when signing

Common formats include:

  • pp John Doe for Jane Smith – John is signing for Jane.
  • Or in a letter closing, you might see:

Yours sincerely,
pp A. Assistant, for M. Manager

Key points:

  • The signer uses their own signature, not the other person’s.
  • “pp” shows they have permission/authority to sign for that person, especially in business or legal documents.

Other uses of “pp”

Just for context, “pp” can mean different things in other situations, like:

  • “pp.” in citations to mean “pages” (plural).
  • “PP” as slang like “personal problem” in casual text.

But when it’s next to a signature on a letter or document, it refers to signing on someone else’s behalf.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.