What does PS Stand for?

PS stands for postscript. The meaning of the term comes from the Latin “postscriptum”, which means “written after”. When you already signed off a letter or an email, and suddenly realize that you had missed something important notes to include in the letter or an email, we use postscript, it is an additional thought added to letters or an email that comes after it has been completed.

When a computer was not so familiar among the masses, people often wrote a handwritten letter, and most of the time missed something that they wanted to include in the letter. So, adding it in a postscript was a whole lot easier than rewriting the whole thing again, and that’s why they use postscript below of the letter and heading it – PS.

A postscript can be added to emphasize something, make a joke, add a reminder, or even as an argumentative sentence. According to dictionary.com, “postscript” appeared first time in English in the early 1500s. As reported, the abbreviation became popular over the next hundred years, by the early 1600s.

Some of the general examples often using – PS are as below:

PS No matter how hard the situation will be; I will always there for you.

P.S. I was going to send you some money but forgot until I had already sealed the envelope.

PS: Do not forget to courier my certificate back along with other related documents.

How to format and Punctuate PS?

There are no hard and fast rules as to how postscript be abbreviated, with (P.S.) or without (PS) periods, should PS be capitalized or not?

As Cambridge Dictionary suggests that PS is the proper format in British English. They say that P.S. (with periods after each letter) is the American English format.

Whereas, the Chicago Manual of Style favors PS, without the periods.

The convenient way is to capitalize the P and S (use periods after each letter if you want to) and leave out any trailing punctuation.

How to use PS in an email?

Since we can edit an email as many times as we want, and therefore technically we can avoid using PS when communicated electronically.

But, people still using postscript since it does not require to edit or rewrite an entire email just to include an important afterthought.

PS is still useful for pointing out something important in an email, it is an effective way to get specific and draw recipients’ attention towards it.

Normally, when you got a lengthy email, we avoid reading word to word but we tend to notice what’s written at the beginning and end of an email.

Mentioning PS at the end of an email ensures to communicate important information to the recipient.

One more important yet basic thing that confused people oftentimes, that PS come before or after the signature? We would like you to make a note that since a postscript is an addition afterthought, that comes after an email is completed, it should always follow the signature.

How to use PS in a letter?

PS is a great way to leave a personal note at the end, you can make a joke or reveal the absolute truth. People also add a PPS, which means “post-post-scriptum”.

Examples of “PS” in a letter

Dear Sir,

I would like to request you to please return all my documents which I had submitted last week. Please courier all the documents to me below mentioned address.

My Address:

Peter Joseph

XXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXX

Zip Code: 000000

P.S. Do not forget to include the original certificate.

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