A few days ago, a client needed to fill out a bank form that had two fields: “Print Name” and “Signature.” The client was confused and asked me for clarification. In fact, this isn’t the first time a client has asked about this. Many clients who need ATIO certified translations for bank loan applications, Canadian immigration procedures, or contract completion often encounter this issue. Since signatures are crucial, let’s talk about this small but important detail that isn’t covered in English textbooks.

💡 Print Name
This means “write your name clearly in neat, legible handwriting,” and it is commonly written in uppercase letters. It doesn’t mean you need to “print” your name using a printer. The idea is to make it look as clear as possible—almost like a printed version—so others can easily read which letters are written.

💡 Signature
This refers to your personal signature, similar to how fingerprints were used in the past in China to confirm identity. The purpose of a signature is to be unique and difficult to imitate, ensuring that it is truly yours. In Canada, even if your signature looks like a drawing of a duck, it’s still acceptable as long as it’s your personal mark.

Although signatures are becoming less important for identity verification, they are still used in some crucial systems, such as signing checks at banks.

Now that you understand the difference between the two, you won’t be confused the next time you fill out a form!