What does PS stand for at the end of a letter? It stands for postscript, from the Latin post scriptum, meaning "written after." A P.S. is a short extra note placed below the signature, for a thought the writer wants to add once the main message is done.
In the days of handwritten and typed letters, a writer could not easily slip a new line into the middle of a finished page, so the P.S. went at the bottom. Today you can edit an email in seconds, yet people still use it on purpose, because a line set apart after the sign off tends to get read.
Quick facts
Stands for
Postscript (Latin post scriptum)Plain meaning
An extra note added after the signatureType
Abbreviation, said letter by letterWritten
P.S. (common in the US) or PSFollow up
P.P.S. for a second noteOther meanings
Public School (in school names), picosecond (ps)
What does P.S. stand for in a letter?
In a letter, the two letters stand for one word, postscript. Latin gives the parts:
- P for post, "after"
- S for scriptum, "something written"
So a postscript is literally the part written after the rest. It sits below your name and starts with the letters, then the note.
End of a thank you card: "Thanks again for the lovely visit. Love, Grandma." Then, below the name: "P.S. You left your blue scarf here. I will mail it Monday." The scarf line is an afterthought, so it goes in the postscript.
How people use a PS today
The PS abbreviation has moved well beyond paper letters. Here is how it shows up now and what it means in each place.
| Setting | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Personal letters and cards | A warm extra line or a small reminder |
| Work email | A side note that does not fit the main topic |
| Sales letters and newsletters | A key point repeated where skimmers will see it |
| Text messages | A casual "oh, and also" line |
Marketers like the postscript because readers often glance at the greeting, the signature and whatever sits right below it. A single sentence there can carry a deadline or a reminder.
What does PS stand for in text?
So what does PS mean in a text or chat message? It means the same thing it always has, an added thought, but it is used loosely. There is no signature to put it after, so it simply marks a new point tacked on to the end.
- "See you at six. ps bring the charger"
- "Great game today. PS your shoes are in my car"
- "Happy birthday. P.S. cake is in the fridge"
In casual messages, people often drop the periods and capitals. Either way, the reader understands it as "by the way" or "one more thing."
Writing P.S. correctly
- Periods: American writers commonly use P.S. with periods. PS without them is also accepted and is common in British writing and in texts.
- Punctuation after it: No colon or comma is needed. "P.S. Call me" is fine, and so is "P.S.: Call me" if you prefer.
- Placement: Below the signature, not above it.
- A second note: Use P.P.S., for post postscriptum. A third would be P.P.P.S., though that is usually played for humor.
- Article: Write "a P.S.," since the letter P begins with a consonant sound.
Keep it short. A postscript that runs longer than the letter loses its point.
Other meanings of PS
The same two letters, written without periods, stand for several unrelated things. The setting usually settles which one the writer had in mind.
| Field | Stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Schools (New York and other cities) | Public School | "She teaches at PS 87." |
| Science | Picosecond (ps), a trillionth of a second | "The pulse lasted 5 ps." |
| Cars | Power steering | "PS fluid low" on a service report |
| Engines | Metric horsepower (from German Pferdestärke) | "150 PS" on a car spec sheet |
If PS appears at the bottom of a message after a name, it is almost always a postscript.
Questions people ask
What does PS stand for in a letter?
It means postscript, an extra note written after the signature. It comes from the Latin post scriptum, meaning written after.
Is it P.S. or PS?
Both are correct. P.S. with periods is the usual choice in American letters, while PS is common in British English and in casual texts.
What does PPS mean?
P.P.S. stands for post postscript, a second note added after the first P.S. It is used when the writer thinks of one more thing.
Do you put a colon after P.S.?
No colon is required. Most writers simply put a space after P.S. and begin the note, though a colon is not wrong.
Is PS an acronym?
Not really. It is an abbreviation of one word, postscript, and you say it letter by letter. See our guide to what is an acronym for how the terms differ.