The abbreviation P.S. stands for postscript, derived from the Latin phrase post scriptum, which translates directly to "written after." When you append a postscript to the bottom of correspondence, you add a thought after the body of the message has already concluded. Writers originally relied on this device out of physical necessity. During the era of handwritten letters and fountain pens, adding a forgotten detail meant starting over or squeezing words into the margins. Dropping a quick note at the very end saved ink and paper.
Today, this symbol does much more than rescue forgetful writers. Modern readers scan emails and letters from top to bottom, but the eyes naturally lock onto the final lines before moving away. You can exploit this psychological habit to emphasize a core call to action, inject personal warmth into professional correspondence, or highlight a critical detail that shouldn't get lost in a crowded paragraph. It's an intentional literary tool that commands attention precisely when the reader's focus begins to wander.
The History of Postscript Usage
Before the rise of modern postal services and typewriters, ink was scarce and paper was expensive. Scribes and correspondents filled every square inch of parchment. If an author finished sealing an envelope or rolling a scroll and remembered an omitted item, unrolling the entire document was tedious.
As typing machines entered offices, the postscript evolved from a physical workaround into a strategic stylistic device. Secretaries and executives realized that typewritten letters looked cleaner when the core message stayed balanced in the center block, leaving the postscript as an isolated punchline or crucial reminder. Over time, copywriters and direct-response marketers discovered its true superpower. They realized that busy recipients often read the salutation, skimmed the closing signature, and immediately checked the very bottom of the page.
Psychological Reasons Why Readers Look at P.S. First
Human reading habits follow predictable patterns. When opening a piece of mail or opening an email thread, the gaze doesn't always start uniformly at the top left and read every single word sequentially. Instead, peripheral vision and scanning habits pull the eye toward distinct visual anchors: headings, bullet points, signatures, and final sign-offs.
Because a postscript sits right below the sign-off block, it stands out visually from the rest of the body text. It creates white space around itself, acting as a billboard at the end of the text journey. Readers perceive a postscript as an informal, honest whisper from the author. It often feels more authentic than the polished, edited paragraphs above it, which triggers higher engagement rates.
Strategic Uses in Modern Professional Writing
You don't need to limit postscripts to handwritten birthday cards or casual notes to friends. In professional environments, deploying a postscript correctly can drastically improve your response rates and clarify your intent.
Driving Action in Business Emails
When sending a project update or a proposal to a client, the main body of your email might contain dozens of technical details, timelines, and budget breakdowns. Readers often skim past the exact action item you need them to take. Putting that specific request at the bottom changes the dynamic entirely.
For instance, if you need a client to sign a contract by Friday, placing that deadline inside a standard paragraph might cause them to miss it. Highlighting it at the bottom ensures they see it immediately, even if they skim the technical descriptions above.
Injecting Personal Touch into Digital Noise
Corporate inboxes are flooded with robotic, hyper-formal communication. Adding a brief, human note at the end breaks the monotony. It shows that a real person took the time to write the message, rather than an automated script or generic template.
When writing to a colleague, you can drop a friendly inquiry about their recent weekend trip or upcoming presentation right at the bottom. This bridges the gap between professional efficiency and genuine human connection without cluttering the main agenda of your message.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While postscripts offer immense versatility, misusing them can confuse your reader or undermine your professional authority.
- Repeating the main point: Don't use a postscript to restate the exact sentence you just wrote in the final paragraph. It wastes space and signals poor editing.
- Writing an essay: Keep it brief. If your postscript spans three long paragraphs, it's no longer a postscript—it's an appendix that belongs in the main text.
- Overusing them: If every single email you send contains multiple postscripts, the formatting loses its visual impact and becomes an annoying distraction.
- Burying bad news: Never use a postscript to drop a major surprise, budget cut, or project cancellation. Important structural news belongs in the primary body where it receives proper context.
How to Format and Punctuate Properly
Grammar rules for abbreviations have evolved, but traditional style guides maintain clear expectations for postscript punctuation.
You can write it as P.S. with periods after both letters, or simply PS without periods. Both styles are acceptable in modern publishing, though keeping it consistent within a single document matters most. If you need to add a second or third thought subsequent to the first one, the correct abbreviations are PPS (post-postscriptum) or P.P.S.
Place your postscript two line breaks below your signature block or sign-off phrase like "Best regards". This preserves the white space that makes the element visually striking in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple postscripts in a single letter?
Yes, you can use P.P.S. for a second subsequent thought, but using more than two becomes messy and signals disorganized writing. Stick to one impactful closing thought whenever possible.
Is P.S. appropriate for formal job application cover letters?
It's generally best to avoid postscripts in formal job applications, academic cover letters, or legal notices, where strict traditional formatting rules dictate precise structural norms.
What is the difference between P.S. and P.P.S.?
P.S. stands for the first postscript added after the letter. P.P.S. stands for post-post scriptum, indicating a second addition added after the first postscript.
Why do email marketers love using postscripts?
According to studies by organizations like the Data & Marketing Association, readers consistently look at the postscript before reading the body copy. Marketers place their strongest discount code or expiration warning there to capture immediate conversions.
Should I indent a postscript?
No. Keep it aligned with the left margin of your letter or email body, separated by clear line spacing so it remains visually distinct from the closing signature.
Associated Press Stylebook guidelines recommend keeping lowercase or uppercase abbreviations clean and consistent across all corporate correspondence. For further reading on historical correspondence evolution, check out resources provided by the Library of Congress.
