What is the Difference Between a Word Mark and a Logo?

A word mark (or standard character mark) protects a trademark as it shows written on an application, the wording itself, no matter how it's styled. This means that it can be then shown on as many different graphic representations as their owner sees fit.

Let's say that you have a trademark name and you want to change the font and name every month to keep up with trends or aesthetics of the calendar year. A word mark allows you to. The trademark protects the words, not the look.

A logo (or design mark), on the contrary, does not need to include a word, but it can. It protects a specific graphic representation. The limitation? It is less flexible and you would need to seek additional trademark protection if you were to make a significant rebrand.