Monogram

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For other uses, see Monogram (disambiguation).

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The Chi-Rho, a monogram of the first two letters in the Greek word for Christ

'E and L' embroider for clothes and bedding, for a wife by the initials E L or L E

A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, and may be used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials, such as "TCM", is properly referred to as a cypher and is not, strictly speaking, a monogram, although ciphers are frequently referred to as monograms.

A monogram may have signed the sometimes artistic products (sculptures, pieces of furniture, etc) of craftsmen, especially when the guilds enforced measures against unauthorized participation to the trade.

An individual's monogram is often a very fancy piece of art for adorning luggage, clothing, and so forth.

Monograms of the names of monarchs are used as part of the insignia of public organizations in kingdoms, such as on police badges. This indicates a connection to the ruler.

Some monograms, like the interrobang, are not used for companies. These, rather, are used as letters, punctuation, and the like.