P.S.: what it means, how to write it and postscript examples
From the Latin post scriptum to WhatsApp: meaning, correct form and examples for your emails
P.S. is short for postscript: a brief note added at the end of a letter or an email, after the signature, to say something that wasn’t in the main text. In Spanish it is written P.D., short for posdata.
It comes from the Latin post scriptum, “written after”. It was born in handwritten letters, when you couldn’t erase anything, and today it’s used in emails, messages and social media.
What does P.S. mean?
P.S. means postscript. It’s what you write when you’ve already finished and signed, but still have something to say.
In a letter, it was used to add something you had forgotten. Today it’s also used on purpose: to highlight an idea, make a personal comment or end on a humorous note.
Whatever goes in the postscript is read separately from the rest. That’s why it catches the eye.
How is the postscript written in Spanish?
The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) writes the abbreviation with two capital letters, each followed by a period, with a space between them: P. D. It’s usually followed by a colon and the text of the note. It’s one of the most common abbreviations in email, along with others like ASAP or FYI.
| Form | Correct? | When it’s used |
|---|---|---|
| P. D.: | Yes, it’s the recommended form | Letters and formal emails |
| P.D.: | Accepted and very common | Emails and digital texts |
| PD: | Informal | WhatsApp, social media and chats |
| P. P. D.: | Yes | A second postscript, after the first one |
| P.S.: | It’s the English form | Texts in English |
The postscript always goes at the end, below the signature. If you put it before your sign-off, it’s no longer a postscript.
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P.S. examples
Here’s what a postscript looks like in three different situations.
In a personal letter or email:
P.S. I almost forgot: we’re celebrating Lucía’s birthday on Saturday. Hope to see you there!
In a work email:
P.S. I’m also attaching last year’s budget, in case you’d like to compare.
In a marketing email:
P.S. The 20% discount ends this Sunday at midnight. Use it here before it expires.
Famous postscripts
Some of the most memorable postscripts don’t sell anything. They work because they add something personal just when the letter seemed to be over.
In October 1946, physicist Richard Feynman wrote a love letter to his wife Arline, who had died more than a year earlier. He ended it with this postscript: “P.S. Please excuse my not mailing this, but I don’t know your new address.”
In 1965, writer Kurt Vonnegut used a postscript to tell his daughter Nanette that, the last time he saw her, she struck him as one of the nicest people he had ever met. The letter was about other things. What people remember is the P.S.
That surprise at the end works in your emails too. A short, personal postscript is more memorable than another paragraph about the offer.
On WhatsApp, Instagram or TikTok, “PS” also means postscript. It’s written at the end of a message or a post to add a comment.
It’s usually something short, personal or funny. For example, under a travel photo: “PS: yes, I came back with more clothes than I left with.”
Sometimes it’s used to mean “by the way”. The idea is the same: an addition that comes after the main point.
Other meanings of PD
Outside of messages, the letters PD can also mean something else. On chargers and USB cables, PD stands for Power Delivery, a fast-charging standard. It has nothing to do with the postscript.
The postscript in email marketing
In a marketing email, the P.S. is one of the most-read parts. Many readers don’t read the email body from top to bottom: they look at the subject line, the greeting, the button and the end.
German direct marketing expert Siegfried Vögele studied this in business letters. He found that readers, after a quick glance, jumped to the signature and the postscript before reading the text. That’s why he recommended always including one.
It works the same way in an email. You can use the postscript to:
- Remind readers of the main offer or the deadline.
- Repeat the call to action with a link.
- Add a gift, a fact or a customer review.
- Add a personal touch that brings the brand closer to the reader.
The most famous case is Hotmail. At the end of every email its users sent, a line appeared inviting the recipient to open a free account. Every message sent was an ad, and that’s how it gained millions of users.
Mistakes when using a P.S.
Putting one in every email. If there’s always a postscript, the reader stops looking at it. Use it when you have something to highlight.
Writing a long paragraph. The postscript works because it’s short. One or two sentences are enough.
Repeating the message word for word. It’s better to say the same thing in a different way or add a new detail.
Confusing it with the email footer. The email footer, with the legal information and the unsubscribe link, goes after it. The postscript is part of the message.
How Mailrelay helps you
With Mailrelay you can add a postscript to your newsletters in seconds:
- A drag-and-drop editor to place the text after the signature.
- Personalization with the subscriber’s name, in the postscript too.
- A/B testing to compare an email with a postscript and one without.
- Click statistics to see whether the postscript link is working.
The free account includes up to 80,000 emails a month and 20,000 contacts, with human support on all plans.
Emails that get read to the very last line
Templates, personalization and click statistics, with human support on every plan.
Frequently asked questions about P.S.
These are the most common questions.
What does P.S. mean in a letter?
It means postscript. It’s a note added at the end of a letter, after the signature, to say something that wasn’t in the text.
How do you write P.D. in Spanish?
The recommended form is “P. D.”, with a space between the letters, followed by a colon. “P.D.:” is also common and, in informal messages, “PD:”.
What does PS mean on WhatsApp?
The same as in a letter: postscript. It’s used to add a comment at the end of a message, often with a touch of humor.
How do you say P.S. in Spanish?
P.D., short for posdata, from the Latin post data, “after what has been written”. It’s used the same way as in English, at the end of a letter or email.
What is P.P.S.?
A second postscript. It’s written after the first one when you want to add another note.