The PS is one of the oldest conventions in written communication and one of the least used in professional email. That underuse is an opportunity, because a well-placed PS gets read — often more carefully than the body of the email it follows.
What PS Means
PS stands for postscript, from the Latin post scriptum: "written after." Originally it referred to content added after a letter had already been signed, because in the days of physical letters, going back to add a line after signing was impractical.
In email, there is no technical need for a PS. You can edit the body before sending. But the PS has survived precisely because it works as a communication device, not just a logistical solution. It signals: "one more thing, and I want it to land separately."
Why a PS Gets Read
Eye-tracking research on emails and sales letters consistently shows that the PS is one of the most-read elements of any message — often more so than the middle of the body. The reasons are behavioral:
It stands out visually. After the sign-off, the eye expects the email to end. When it does not, the PS registers as something different — a note outside the frame of the main message.
It feels personal. A PS carries the weight of an afterthought, even when it was deliberate. It reads less like a composed message and more like something someone remembered just before hitting send.
It is short. The best PS lines are one or two sentences. People read short things.
Where to Put a PS in an Email
The PS goes after your sign-off, on a new line, preceded by "PS" or "P.S." (both are standard).
Looking forward to talking on Thursday.
[Your name]
PS: [Your postscript content.]
If you have two postscript lines — unusual but possible — the second is "PPS." Anything beyond that should be in the body of the email.
Do not put the PS before your sign-off. That defeats its purpose — it becomes part of the body, not a standalone afterthought.
When a PS Works Well
Reinforcing the main ask
If your email makes one central request, a PS that restates it briefly can improve response rates. This is the most common use of the PS in sales email.
PS: The offer I mentioned closes on Friday. Happy to answer questions before then.
The PS does not add new information. It gives the central message one more moment of attention at the end of the email, after the reader has absorbed the rest.
Adding something personal without disrupting the body
The body of a professional email often needs to be formal or structured. A PS lets you add a personal note without changing the register of the whole message.
PS: Good luck with the conference this week. I will be curious to hear how it goes.
This is more genuine at the end of a formal email than woven into the body. It does not disrupt the professional content — it appends something warmer after it.
Including secondary information that does not fit the flow
Sometimes an email has a clear primary purpose and a secondary thing you want to mention that does not fit cleanly into the body without derailing the structure.
PS: I also updated the shared doc with the notes from Tuesday in case you have not seen them yet.
The main email stays focused. The PS handles the secondary item without creating a multi-topic email.
Creating a soft sell or secondary hook in sales outreach
In outreach email, the PS is a well-established technique for including a secondary value proposition or a low-pressure aside without cluttering the main pitch.
PS: If now is not the right time, worth knowing we work with teams as small as five people — the entry point is lower than most expect.
The body handles the main pitch. The PS handles the objection or the secondary angle. Readers who were not convinced by the body sometimes engage with a well-placed PS.
The genuine afterthought
Sometimes the PS is exactly what it looks like: something you thought of after writing the rest. That is fine. The honest afterthought reads as exactly that, which has its own kind of authenticity.
PS: Forgot to mention — the file is in the shared drive under the Q2 folder.
When Not to Use a PS
When the information is important. If something needs to be read, it belongs in the body. A PS is easy to miss — it signals "additional, not essential." Putting a critical deadline or a key decision in the PS is a reliable way to have it overlooked.
When the email is already long. A PS on a 400-word email signals either poor editing (the content should be in the body) or an attempt to use the PS effect on an email that has not earned it.
When it undermines the close. Some emails end at a high point — a strong ask, a clear offer, a graceful close. A PS after that close can dilute it. If your sign-off is landing well, do not add an afterthought.
In formal legal or compliance correspondence. Postscripts in formal communications can create ambiguity about what is part of the record and what is supplementary. In regulated contexts, avoid them.
PS Examples by Situation
Sales / outreach:
- PS: We are currently offering a free trial with no credit card required. Happy to set one up if that is useful.
- PS: [Mutual contact] mentioned you are thinking about [topic]. Happy to send over what I sent them.
- PS: The case study I referenced is here if you want to take a look: [link].
Internal / team:
- PS: Let me know if you want me to pull this into the weekly update as well.
- PS: I am out Thursday afternoon but reachable on Slack.
- PS: Heads up — [colleague] mentioned they have context on this too.
Client-facing:
- PS: The deadline I mentioned is firm on our side, but I have some flexibility on how we get there. Happy to discuss.
- PS: If you have follow-up questions before Thursday, [colleague] is a good person to loop in as well.
Personal / warm:
- PS: Hope the move went smoothly. You mentioned it was coming up.
- PS: I will be at [event] next month if you are around.
Practical afterthoughts:
- PS: The agenda is attached in case you missed the original calendar invite.
- PS: My number is [phone] if it is faster to text.
PS vs. P.S. — Does Punctuation Matter?
Both "PS" and "P.S." are widely accepted. "P.S." follows the traditional abbreviation convention with periods after each letter. "PS" is more common in informal email. Either is fine; the convention that matters is being consistent within a document.
In highly formal or printed correspondence, "P.S." is still the standard. In everyday professional email, "PS" is fine.
The Underused Tool
Most professionals have stopped using the PS entirely, either because they associate it with old-fashioned letter-writing or because they assume recipients will not read it. Both assumptions are worth revisiting.
The PS works because it breaks the pattern of how email is read. A message with a postscript creates a small visual surprise at the bottom of the page — and readers are wired to pay attention to surprises. Used deliberately, a PS can reinforce your main message, add a personal touch, or handle a secondary note without cluttering the body.
The one rule: keep it short. A PS longer than two sentences is no longer a postscript. It is a body paragraph that got lost.
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