# pp = "plural pages?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pp-plural-pages/329121>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 2, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pp-plural-pages/329121 "2005-11-02T18:37:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pp-plural-pages/329121/21 "2005-11-03T10:34:31Z")

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Oh, and I incorrectly attributed **Alan Smithee** ’s correction of **Reality Chuck** ’s over-narrow definition of “folk etymology” to **Reality Chuck** himself. Sorry about that.

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**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pp-plural-pages/329121/22 "2005-11-03T15:07:33Z")

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I believe I have also seen “pp” used when someone is signing on behalf of another person.

e.g. you get a letter by A. N. Executive (or a form letter purporting to be from them) with the signature of A. Peon and “pp A. Executive” below the signature.

No idea where this originates from or if it is common practice.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pp-plural-pages/329121/23 "2005-11-03T15:28:11Z")

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> [@Kimstu](#):
>
> And I too am skeptical of the claim that “carbon copies” is a folk-etymology interpretation, and that “cc” was originally simply a plural form like “pp”.

Given **sinjin’s** cite from the OED that the first recorded use of “CC” was in 1936, that is, long after the invention of carbon paper, and the evident lack of evidence for the plural explanation, I think we can conclude that “carbon copy” is in fact the origin.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pp-plural-pages/329121/24 "2005-11-03T15:32:53Z")

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> [@slaphead](#):
>
> I believe I have also seen “pp” used when someone is signing on behalf of another person.
> 
> e.g. you get a letter by A. N. Executive (or a form letter purporting to be from them) with the signature of A. Peon and “pp A. Executive” below the signature.
> 
> No idea where this originates from or if it is common practice.

According to Merriam Webster, this is an abbreviation for Latin _per procurationem_, “by proxy.”  
It is also an abbreviation for the musical instruction _pianissimo_, “'very softly.” Here the doubling indicates an intensification of _piano_, “softly,” rather than a plural.

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pp-plural-pages/329121/25 "2005-11-03T16:57:32Z")

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> [@Colibri](#):
>
> According to Merriam Webster, this is an abbreviation for Latin _per procurationem_, “by proxy.”  
> It is also an abbreviation for the musical instruction _pianissimo_, “'very softly.” Here the doubling indicates an intensification of _piano_, “softly,” rather than a plural.

After receiving my comeuppance on not only “what I thought I knew” about CC but the terminology I used (though I am glad to be in Ciardi’s company on it), I think any further contributions I make to this thread will be _ppp_. 😉

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