[Ads-l] Fwd: wet signature

[John Baker]

See also the thread discussing “wet signature” in 2016, https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2016-May/142194.html. 


John Baker


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Bill Mullins <amcombill at hotmail.com>
> Date: April 8, 2026 at 11:53:37 AM GMT+9:30
> To: ADS-L at listserv.uga.edu
> Subject: wet signature
> Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at listserv.uga.edu>
> 
> wet signature - not in OED
> 
> a signature written in a person's own hand, not mechanically or otherwise artificially reproduced.
> 
> 
> 
> 1986 Palm Springs CA Desert Sun 13 Sept B2/5 [proquest]
> 
> Mangione noted that a requirement for one set of "wet signature plans" has always been in the code, but the city has not vigorously enforced it.
> 
> 
> 1995 Healthcare Financial Management Feb 80/2  [proquest]
> 
> "Wet" signature approvals should be mandatory.
> 
> 
> 1996 MicroTimes 4 Mar 160/2
> 
> Each of these factors would seem to indicate that a handwritten, or “wet,” signature is required for a contract to be valid.
> 
> https://archive.org/details/microtimesissue100unse_73/page/160/mode/1up?q=%22wet+signature%22+autopen
> 
> 
> 
> 1998 Chicago Tribune 29 Mar D6/5 [proquest]
> A digital signature has some significant advantages over the time-tested "wet" signature on paper.
> 
> 
> 2001 Penn State Intercom 2 Mar 8/2
> 
> Like the TDA companies, our life insurance provider still requires a hard copy and a "wet signature" on the beneficiary forms.
> 
> https://archive.org/details/pennstateintercov30univ/page/n335/mode/1up?q=%22wet+signature%22
> 
> 
> 2026 Comprehensive Psychiatry 20 Feb 11/1  [proquest]
> 
> Parent or guardian consent was obtained in paper format with a wet signature or electronically via the school's preferred process.
> 
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> 
> 1967 Indianapolis News 13 Nov 24/3 [proquest]
> 
> By calling his Sec-O-Matic credit card number to the Indianapolis  S-O-M office, the person in Bloomington can dictate a personal letter, have it wet-signed in the person's handwriting, have it sealed, stamped and mailed and on the way.
> 
> 
> 
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org