Angel P. answered • 06/21/19
Professional Writer, Editor, & Teacher with 25+ Years of Experience
This is a great question for updating older means of communication to our current technology!
You probably know that "P.S." stands for "post script," meaning "after the signature." This goes back to a time when people wrote by hand (and later typed on a typewriter). The "PS" was added as an afterthought--something that the writer had forgotten to mention before he signed his name. Rather than rewrite a whole letter to include that thought, he just included it at the bottom after his signature.
Our current technology has allowed us to do away with the "PS" almost completely. We have no need for them in an email or a letter composed on the computer, simply because we can go back and add to the body of text at any time. So really, a "PS" has no place in emails at all, whether they are business or casual.
One exception might be if you send an email, and then think of something you have forgotten. You then might hit the reply button and add a "PS" in the reply. However, it's best to only do this with close acquaintances or people you work with on a daily basis. (To be honest, if the contact is a friend, it's still unnecessary since it's already assumed to be a "PS.") A more formal business email would probably require a bit more of an explanation.
One other exception is if you wanted to write a note by hand at the bottom of a formal letter. This provides a personal touch and makes the reader feel you have taken a little extra time to communicate with them directly. A "PS" in ink is a great way to do just that.
