You've just finished a long, heartfelt email to an old friend or maybe a semi-formal note to a colleague. You hit the final period, sign your name, and then—bam. You realize you forgot to mention that one crucial thing. Maybe it’s a quick reminder about dinner plans or a cheeky joke that didn't fit in the main body.
What do you do? You drop a P.S. meaning in a letter or email exactly what it has meant for centuries: an afterthought.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird that we still use it. We have backspace keys now. We can literally click anywhere in a digital document and insert a sentence. Yet, the postscript persists. It’s not just a relic of the quill-and-ink era; it’s a psychological tool that changes how people read what you write.
What Does P.S. Actually Stand For?
Let's get the technical stuff out of the way first. P.S. stands for postscriptum. It’s Latin. If you break it down, post means "after" and scriptum means "written." So, quite literally, it is the "after-written" part of your message.
Back when people wrote with ink on parchment, you couldn't just "undo" a mistake. If you forgot to tell your cousin that the harvest was coming early, you couldn't squeeze it into the margin without making the whole thing look like a mess. You’d finish the letter, realize your mistake, and tack on a P.S. at the very bottom.
It was a functional necessity.
Today, it’s more of a stylistic choice. Using a P.S. meaning in a letter or an email acts as a visual "Popsicle stick" that pokes out of the page. It draws the eye.
Does the Punctuation Matter?
People get really hung up on whether it should be P.S., PS, or p.s.
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If you’re following the Chicago Manual of Style, they generally prefer periods: P.S.
However, the Oxford Guide to Style (more common in the UK) often leans toward PS without the dots. Honestly? In a casual email, nobody cares. But if you're writing something formal—like a cover letter or a physical thank-you note—stick to P.S. with the periods. It looks more "correct" to the traditionalist eye.
Why the Postscript is a Secret Weapon for Marketers
It sounds crazy, but the P.S. is often the most-read part of a letter.
Direct mail experts, like the legendary Siegfried Vögele, found through eye-tracking studies that people often read the salutation first, then jump immediately to the bottom to see who sent the letter and what the P.S. says. They skip the middle.
Think about your own behavior. You open an email, you see a wall of text, and you scroll to the bottom. That little line at the end stands out because it’s separated from the "bulk" of the content. It’s the "TL;DR" (Too Long; Didn't Read) of the 18th century.
In a business context, the P.S. meaning in a letter shifts from a simple afterthought to a "Call to Action."
- P.S. Don't forget, the 50% discount expires at midnight!
- P.S. I've attached that case study we talked about for your review.
By putting the most important point in the postscript, you’re almost guaranteeing it gets seen, even by the scannery-est of readers.
The Etiquette of the P.S. in Modern Correspondence
Is it rude to use a P.S. in 2026? Not really. But there are vibes to consider.
In a formal business letter, a P.S. can sometimes look a bit disorganized. It suggests you didn't plan your thoughts out before you started typing. If you’re writing to a high-ranking executive or a law firm, it’s usually better to just edit your main text to include the information.
On the flip side, in a cover letter for a job, a P.S. can add a splash of personality.
"P.S. I noticed your team recently won the 'Innovator of the Year' award—huge fan of the work you did on the Jupiter project!"
This shows you've done your research and adds a human touch that feels less "templated."
When You Have More Than One Afterthought
What happens if you forget another thing?
You move to the P.P.S. This stands for post-postscriptum.
And if you’re really losing it and forget a third thing? P.P.P.S.
Stop. Just stop.
If you find yourself hitting P.P.S., you should probably just rewrite the email. At that point, you aren't being charming or efficient; you're being messy. One P.S. is a stylistic choice. Two is a mistake. Three is a cry for help.
Common Misconceptions About Postscripts
One of the biggest myths is that a P.S. has to be short.
While it’s usually a sentence or two, historical letters—think Virginia Woolf or Ernest Hemingway—sometimes had postscripts that were longer than the actual letter. Sometimes the "afterthought" is where the real meat of the conversation lives.
Another misconception is that it’s only for "forgotten" info.
In reality, people often use the P.S. meaning in a letter to drop a "knowledge bomb" or a final emotional appeal. It’s like the "one more thing" that Steve Jobs used to do at the end of Apple keynotes. It creates suspense.
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The Difference Between P.S. and an Addendum
Sometimes people confuse a postscript with an addendum or a formal attachment.
An addendum is a separate document or a formal addition to a contract.
A P.S. is just a continuation of the same thought process within the same document.
P.S. Examples in Different Contexts
To really understand the P.S. meaning in a letter, you have to see how it shifts depending on who you're talking to.
The Romantic P.S.
"I had a great time tonight. P.S. You still have my favorite sweater, which is a great excuse to see you again soon."
Why it works: It’s low-pressure. It puts the "ask" at the end, making it feel like an afterthought rather than a demand.
The Professional P.S.
"Thanks for the meeting. P.S. I’m CC’ing my assistant, Sarah, who will handle the scheduling for our next session."
Why it works: It keeps the main body focused on the "thank you" while handling the logistics separately.
The Urgent P.S.
"The report is attached. P.S. Please note the revised figures on page 4; they changed since this morning's briefing."
Why it works: It highlights a specific, critical detail that might get lost in a long document.
How to Format Your Postscript Like a Pro
If you want to look like you know what you're doing, follow these tiny but important rules.
- Placement: It always goes after your signature. Always.
- Indentation: You don't usually need to indent it, even if your paragraphs are indented.
- The Colon: Some people write "P.S: [Message]." Others write "P.S. [Message]." The second one (with the period after the S) is more standard.
- The "Enter" Key: Give it a bit of breathing room. Leave one blank line between your signature and the P.S.
Why We Won't Stop Using It
Technology changes, but human psychology stays pretty much the same.
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We like "extras." We like the feeling of a "whispered" secret at the end of a conversation. A P.S. feels a bit more intimate than the rest of the letter. It’s the part where the writer lets their guard down.
In a world of AI-generated emails and perfectly polished corporate speak, the P.S. feels remarkably human. It’s the digital equivalent of turning back at the door to say one last thing before you leave the room.
Real Talk: Does it actually help SEO?
Since you're reading this on the web, you might wonder if putting a P.S. meaning in a letter discussion in your own content helps with rankings. Indirectly, yes. Because it keeps people on the page. It’s a "pattern interrupt." When a reader sees a P.S. at the end of a blog post or an article, they tend to slow down. That increased "dwell time" tells search engines that your content is actually being read, not just bounced away from.
Actionable Steps for Using Postscripts Effectively
If you want to start using this tool better, here’s how to do it without looking like you’re stuck in the 1990s:
- Use it for a single, clear call to action. Don't clutter it with three different links. Pick one thing you want the reader to do.
- Test the "Bribe." If you're sending a business email, put your bonus offer or "special gift" in the P.S. Watch your click-through rates.
- Keep it personal. Use the P.S. to mention something specific to the recipient—a kid's birthday, a favorite sports team, or a shared joke.
- Check your tone. If the letter is very serious (like a layoff notice or a legal warning), never use a P.S. It comes across as flippant or poorly planned.
- Proofread it twice. Because the eye is drawn to the postscript, a typo there is ten times more embarrassing than a typo in the third paragraph.
Basically, treat your postscript like the dessert of your letter. It should be short, sweet, and leave a lasting impression after the main course is finished.
Next time you're about to send a message, think about that one thing you really want them to remember. Save it. Put it at the bottom. Use the power of the postscript.