What Does “P.S.” Mean? A Simple Guide for Everyone
Why Is P.S. Still Relevant Today?
Can you imagine that you come across it at the end of letters, notes or even in emails – two letters that can hardly make you think of anything special: P. S But yet, what does P.S mean or actually implies? What is more, people continue to utilize it in the age of digital al communication and the reason is simple.
If you are a student working on an assignment or someone using email communication professionally, knowing this term can help make your writing sound more professional. In this blog, we will define the postscript, how it is used today, and whether or not you should use it in your messages. You are getting ready to learn how to use this tool which is very old yet a very powerful tool in writing in the easiest way possible.
What Does P.S. Mean?
The Full Form and Origin of P.S.
The abbreviation P.S is an acronym for Post Scriptum which is a Latin terminology meaning ‘written after’. It is actually a small extra message which is written after the body of a letter and the other formal closing.
In the process of writing letters by post, getting to make corrections on the same letter once one is done with signing off was not possible. For that reason, writers would pen a P.S. to write something that had been somehow omitted or to put forth a point that perhaps was important to them and thus missed in writing the letter.
Thus, when someone comes to you and asks what does P.S. mean, he or she will get the answer, that it is a way of writing additional information after the letter is complete.
Postscript Definition in Simple Terms
In simple terms, a postscript is an additional message that one may add at the end of the letter or email message. Its purpose can vary:
- Add a quick reminder
- Share a funny or personal comment
- Reinforce an important point.
It aims to create an action, as part of the call-to-action used especially in marketing emails. To make our understanding clearer, let us examine a basic postscript definition:
Postscript (noun): Any message or information written as an addition to a letter after the place where the sender signs off.
How to Add P.S. in a Letter or Email
When writing a letter or an e-mail, documenting a P.S. is a good practice that is used to provide the final message after everything has been concluded by signing off a letter. The P.S. should be written after the closing, whether you choose ‘Best regards’ or ‘Sincerely’, or your name and signature. It simplifies structure and keeps the message or the information you convey to your viewers clean and concise. In other words, it provides that the proper course is as follows: the body of the message, followed by the closing remark, then the sender’s name or initials, and lastly, the P.S. section and the extra information. With the P.S., it remains pertinent that one uses capital letters and after each one uses a period – P.S., not “ps”. Ideally, it is better to keep the explanation brief and confined to just one line, or in fact, just like a tweet. In case it is necessary to add a postscript, you can use P.P.S., which is a shortened form of post-postscript. For instance, as a follow-up, “Best regards, [Name]” you might add a postscript such as “P.S. Do not forget to bring your ID for tomorrow’s event”.
How to Add P.S. in a Letter or Email
Where does the P.S. go?
If you’re writing a physical letter or even a formal email, P.S. is always placed after your closing (like “Sincerely” or “Regards”) and your name.
Here’s the order:
Main content
Closing phrase (e.g., best regards)
Signature
P.S. + Your additional note
Formatting Tips
Use P.S. with capital letters and a period after each.
Keep it short—think of it as a tweet, not a paragraph.
If you want to add more than one, you can use P.P.S. (Post Post Scriptum).
Example:
Best regards,
Sarah Johnson
P.S. Don’t forget to bring your ID for tomorrow’s event!
Examples of P.S. in Emails and Letters
Casual Example for a Friend
Cheers,
Mike
P.S. I finally watched that movie you recommended—it was amazing!
Formal Email to a Professor
Sincerely,
Aisha Patel
P.S. I’ve attached the assignment document as per your instructions. Let me know if you need anything else.
Marketing Example
Kind regards,
The BookZone Team
P.S. Order before midnight to get 20% off your next purchase!
Table – Appropriate Use of P.S.
Context | Should You Use P.S.? | Example Use |
Personal email | ✅ Yes | “P.S. Tell your sister I said hi!” |
Job application | ❌ Avoid | Not recommended; keep it formal and focused |
Academic request | ✅ Yes | “P.S. I’m happy to provide additional documents.” |
Marketing email | ✅ Yes | “P.S. Only 3 spots left—book yours today!” |
Why Do People Still Use P.S. in the Digital Age?
It may seem incredible in the world of instant messaging and other digital means of communication where one can type a message and scrutinize it before hitting the send button, but the postscript has not lost its importance. This is effective since the eye would initially be drawn to the end of any message. This makes it a smart move to draw attention to an object. Besides, it adopts more closeness, such as friendliness or casualness, without polarizing the real tone of the message rather sharply. In marketing, a P.S. is often the final appeal to the readers to act; to buy something, to join, to answer, and so on. There are other things it means to know what P.S. i,s, and is not limited to the historical aspect of i,t, but it is the utilization of this tool in contemporary society.
FAQs – People Also Ask
It is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase meaning “after the writing,” and it represents a note written after the message and the final signature.
Yes! P.S., like in emails, can also be added for emphasis, to put a reminder or even a friendly sign off after your signatory.
Yes, but use it sparingly. In business or formal communication, it should satisfy a definite and business-like need.
Yes, but don’t overdo it. Certainly, reserve P.P.S. for a second postscript if it is vital to include it.
Conclusion
Knowing what P.S. means is a way of producing a personal or persuading close to the receiver note at the end of your letter. However, when using P.S., here are some guidelines that will assist you and help you to come up with the best way of making the postscript: Remember to be on topic while using as few words as possible, and make sure it’s necessary. It is not for all occasions, but it isn’t useful when used intelligently; it adds to the flow of communication in a creative and yet practical manner. Therefore, every time you draft a letter or make a note of an email, you should not dismiss the use of a P.S.!