A postscript (PS) is added after the main text of a letter and is often used to include forgotten information or add a personal touch. It can also be used to provide commentary or additional information. However, it should be used sparingly in formal business communications. Overuse can be seen as bad form and detract from the seriousness of the letter.
In a letter, as in any written communication, “PS” stands for the Latin phrase post scriptum which means “after writing”. It is meant to reflect the fact that initialed text was added after the other material had already been written, often as an afterthought; as such, it typically occurs at the end of the letter, usually below the signature. In some cases, a “PPS” may appear underneath and potentially a cascade of “PPPS” and “PPPPS” could result, although this is generally seen as bad form.
Afterthoughts
There are a number of reasons why a letter writer might add a postscript, known more commonly in English as a postscript. Most of the time, people include one when they remember something before mailing a letter and don’t want to wait to include it in a future communication. For example, someone might remember that their address has changed and add “PS My new address is…” so that the reader is notified that the old address is no longer valid, in case they miss the change in the section of the return address of the envelope.
Add a personal touch
A postscript may also be included to add a more informal touch to a formal communication, as in “PS George and the boys say hello,” reminding the reader of a personal connection to the writer. Formal letters can also use the postscript as a tool to provide more information about the context of the letter or to offer a softer, more personalized ending. Postscripts are occasionally used in preprinted letters to add a personal note to a form response.
One place where this technique is relatively rare is in formal business communications. Business correspondence is usually carefully composed without unnecessary additions; information that is forgotten usually requires a complete rewrite. Personal notes or warnings are usually out of place in these contexts.
As a vehicle for external comments
In some cases, a postscript can also be used to add a commentary to a written document, such as in the case of a writer who wants to expand on something in a letter without interfering with the larger flow. They are often included in books for the same reason, often to allow writers to thank people who have contributed to the work. Acknowledgments may be unwieldy in other areas of the book. Authors may also use the device to provide additional information, such as lists of resources readers might be interested in.
Precautions and concerns about overuse
It is not uncommon to see PS written as “PS” and both terms are generally considered stylistically acceptable. However, writers should be careful about using the postscript excessively or too frequently. It can be a very useful and sometimes fascinating writing tool, but it can become irritating if its use becomes a habit. Especially when composing a formal correspondence, using one can detract from the seriousness of the letter.
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