signing

USAGE SUMMARY

'signing' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of affixing a signature to a document or form. For example, "I need to finish signing the paperwork before I can leave."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Often the only source of emergency cash is loan sharks, increasingly big business in Kenya, with borrowers signing ambiguous photocopied contracts and tying themselves into interest rates of 50% or more.

The Guardian

Although Blair cancelled a signing event at Waterstone's in central London scheduled for today, fearing protests, the bookseller nonetheless said A Journey had become its fastest selling autobiography ever, based on first-day sales.

The Guardian - Books

National Grid announced it was close to signing up three power stations to help fill the gap left by closures, breakdowns and delays, and said the cost to consumers of paying for extra capacity and for companies to adjust their consumption if necessary will be about £1 per household.

The Guardian - Business

Although Arsenal's manager ruled out joining the race for Paul Pogba, on the grounds that the Juventus midfielder would be too expensive, he said that signing Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez in the past two summers proves that he is not averse to spending money.

The Guardian - Sport

The types of jobs on offer have, in line with this, continued to shift since Gaz et al were signing on.

The Guardian

The Brazilians, and Neymar in particular, stood up to the physical onslaught, but still needed a crucial deflection to survive a last-gasp header from the new Manchester United signing Radamel Falcao.

The Guardian - Sport

Atlético Madrid are also interested in signing Hernández, who joined in 2010 from Guadalajara and has scored 59 goals in 152 appearances for the Reds over four seasons.

The Guardian - Sport

Ancelotti, though, is gone – at least for the time being – after signing a three-year deal with Chelsea this morning.

The Guardian - Sport

After signing the EU association agreement, Kiev has toyed with the idea of Nato membership, and the Baltics have welcomed increased numbers of US and Nato troops in recent months, moves that Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced in a recent German television interview.

The Guardian

It is only 18 days since the United manager broke the British transfer record by signing Andy Cole from Newcastle United in a deal worth £7m.

The Guardian - Sport

Danny Welbeck, Arsenal's £16m deadline day signing from Manchester United, rolled an ankle towards the end of the training session at London Colney on Tuesday and is unlikely to feature.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In sports contexts, use "signing" to refer to the recruitment or contracting of a player by a team or club.

Common error

Avoid confusing "signing", which relates to signatures and agreements, with "signaling", which refers to communication or indication. For example, "They are signing the contract" versus "They are signaling the start of the race".

Linguistic Context

Signing functions primarily as a verb form (present participle or gerund) indicating the action of affixing a signature to a document, agreement, or contract. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. It can also act as a noun referring to the act itself or a newly signed player.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Sport

25%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "signing" is a versatile word primarily used as a verb to describe the act of affixing a signature to a document, indicating agreement or authorization. As Ludwig AI points out, it is considered grammatically correct and usable. It's also used as a noun to refer to a newly contracted player in sports. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, sports, and formal business contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it can become more formal in legal or business settings. When writing, be sure to differentiate "signing" from similar-sounding words like "signaling" to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

affixing a signature

Focuses specifically on the act of adding a signature.

executing a contract

Highlights the formal completion of a contractual agreement.

ratifying an agreement

Emphasizes the formal approval and validation of an agreement.

endorsing a document

Implies approval and support through a signature.

putting one's name to

An idiomatic expression for formally agreeing to something.

inking a deal

Informal term for finalizing a business agreement.

penning one's signature

Focuses on the physical act of writing a signature.

approving a treaty

Specifically refers to formal approval of a treaty through signature.

authorizing a document

Emphasizes the act of giving official permission through a signature.

concluding an agreement

Highlights the finalization of an agreement through the act of signing.

FAQs

What does "signing" mean in a sports context?

In sports, "signing" refers to a player officially joining a team by "signing a contract", making them a member of that team's roster.

What can I say instead of "signing" a document?

You can use alternatives such as "affixing a signature", "executing a contract", or "ratifying an agreement" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "signing" when talking about online agreements?

Yes, "signing" is often used to describe agreeing to online terms and conditions or contracts, even though the act might involve clicking a button rather than physically signing a document.

What's the difference between "signing" and "endorsing" a document?

"Signing" primarily indicates agreement or authorization, while "endorsing" implies support or recommendation of the document's content.