Ever hit "send" on an email and immediately realized you forgot to mention the most important thing? It happens to the best of us. You forgot the time of the meeting. Or maybe you forgot to say thanks for the coffee. That is exactly where that little "P.S." comes in handy. But honestly, most people just use it without really knowing where it came from or why it’s still hanging around in 2026.
So, what is mean p.s exactly?
It stands for postscript. If you want to get all technical and fancy, it’s from the Latin postscriptum, which literally translates to "written after." Back when people wrote letters with actual ink on actual paper, you couldn't just go back and delete a line or move a paragraph around. If you finished your letter, signed your name, and then remembered you needed to ask for that ten bucks back, you couldn't just "Insert Text." You had to add a little note at the very bottom. That’s the P.S.
The Latin Roots and Why It Stuck
Latin is basically the foundation of half the stuff we say without thinking. Post means after, and scribere means to write. Put them together, and you have the postscript.
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It’s kind of funny because we live in a world of instant editing. You can edit a Slack message. You can unsend an iMessage. You can definitely delete an entire paragraph in a Google Doc. So, logically, the P.S. should be dead. It should be a relic of the past, like floppy disks or landline phones.
But it’s not. In fact, it's thriving.
In the world of direct response marketing—those emails that try to sell you a MasterClass or a new pair of sneakers—the P.S. is often the most read part of the entire message. Studies by experts like Professor Siegfried Vögele have shown that people often skip to the end of a letter, read the P.S., and then decide if the rest of the email is worth their time. It’s a psychological hook. It feels personal. It feels like a "by the way, I forgot to tell you this secret."
How to Format the Thing Correctly
Is it P.S. or PS? Honestly, it depends on who you ask and what style guide is breathing down your neck.
If you are following the Chicago Manual of Style, they generally prefer periods: P.S. The Oxford English Dictionary and many British style guides often ditch the periods and just go with PS.
Does it matter? Not really, unless you're writing a dissertation or your boss is a total stickler for grammar. In a casual email to a friend, "ps" works just fine. If you’re writing a formal business letter, go with P.S. just to be safe.
And if you have another thought after the first P.S.? You don't write P.S.S. That is a common mistake. You write P.P.S., which stands for post-postscriptum. "After-after-writing." You can keep adding P's forever, but please don't. It gets weird after two.
Why We Still Use It in Emails
Think about the last "human" email you got. Not a newsletter. Not a bill. A real email from a real person.
The P.S. adds a layer of conversational warmth. It breaks the "corporate" feel. When you use it, you’re signaling that you had a secondary thought, which makes the communication feel less like a pre-written template and more like a live conversation.
In business, it’s a power move for calls to action.
"P.S. Don't forget the early bird pricing ends tonight!"
That hits different than if it were buried in the third paragraph. It stands out because it’s separated from the main block of text. It's high-contrast.
The Psychology of the Postscript
There’s this thing called the Serial Position Effect. It basically says that we remember the first and last items in a list better than the stuff in the middle. The P.S. takes advantage of the "recency effect." It’s the last thing the reader sees before they close the tab or put down their phone.
It also creates a sense of intimacy. Historically, the postscript was where the "real" news lived. In 18th-century letters, the main body might be full of formal pleasantries about the weather or health, while the P.S. contained the gossip: "P.S. Mr. Darcy has finally proposed!"
We still subconsciously view the P.S. as the "inside scoop." It’s the "one more thing" that Steve Jobs used to do at the end of Apple keynotes. It builds anticipation.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't use a P.S. if the information is actually vital to the main point of the message. If you’re telling someone their house is on fire, don’t put it in a P.S. That’s just bad communication.
Also, don't overdo it. If every single email you send has a postscript, the "special" feeling wears off. It starts to look like a gimmick. Use it when you actually have a secondary thought or when you want to highlight a specific deadline or a personal note that doesn't fit the tone of the main message.
Some people think you need a comma after the P.S.
Like: "P.S., I'll be late."
You don't. You can just write: "P.S. I'll be late." The periods already act as the punctuation. Adding a comma just makes it look cluttered.
Real-World Examples of P.S. in Action
Let's look at a few ways this actually plays out in 2026.
The "Personal Touch" Email:
"Hey Sarah, thanks for the help on the presentation today. I really appreciate you staying late to finish those slides. See you tomorrow at 9.
P.S. That bakery you mentioned? The sourdough was incredible. Thanks for the tip!"
In this case, the P.S. separates the professional "thanks" from the personal "bakery talk." It keeps the email organized but friendly.
The "Marketing" Email:
"Your subscription is about to expire. Click here to renew now and keep your access to the database.
P.S. If you renew in the next 24 hours, we’ll throw in the 'Advanced Analytics' module for free."
Here, the P.S. is used to deliver the "sweetener" to the deal. It’s the final nudge to get the user to click.
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What is Mean P.S. in Texting?
Wait, do people use P.S. in texts? Not really. In a text, you just send another bubble.
Texting is essentially a continuous stream of postscripts. If you forget something in a text, you just send "Oh and also..." or "Forgot to say..." and hit send again. Using "P.S." in a text message can actually come across as a bit ironic or overly formal. It’s almost like a joke or a stylistic choice rather than a necessity.
However, in long-form "text-essays" (you know the ones, where your friend sends a wall of blue text), a P.S. at the bottom can help summarize the chaos.
Moving Forward With Your Writing
Now that you know what is mean p.s, use it wisely. It is a tool for emphasis, not just a place for forgotten thoughts.
Next time you write a formal letter or an important email, try to use a P.S. to highlight your most important call to action. Notice how it draws the eye.
- Check your style guide: Use P.S. for American English/Formal and PS for British/Modern/Casual.
- Keep it brief: A postscript shouldn't be three paragraphs long. If it is, it should have been in the body of the email.
- One is enough: Avoid the P.P.P.S. trap unless you are writing to a close friend and being intentionally silly.
- Use it for "The Pivot": Use the P.S. to switch from a professional tone to a personal one.
The postscript isn't just a leftover from the days of quills and parchment. It’s a psychological tool that helps your message land better. It gives you the "last word" in a way that feels natural and human.
If you are looking to improve your overall digital communication, start paying attention to how others use this space. You'll see it everywhere once you start looking—from the bottom of political fundraising emails to the end of heartfelt birthday notes. It is the ultimate "by the way" that ensures your most important point doesn't get lost in the shuffle.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your last five sent emails. Could any of them have benefited from a P.S. to highlight a deadline or add a personal touch?
- Experiment with placement. Next time you have a "soft" ask (like asking for a LinkedIn recommendation), try putting it in the P.S. instead of the main body to see if the response rate changes.
- Stick to the P.P.S. rule. If you find yourself wanting to add more than two postscripts, stop. Delete the email and rewrite it. Your message is too disorganized.