You know that feeling, right? You've poured your heart into a letter, signed off, and then, just as you're about to fold it, a brilliant thought strikes. Something you absolutely must add. That's where the humble 'PS' comes in, a little postscript to catch those lingering ideas. But what happens when another thought pops up, even after the PS? Enter the PPS.
Think of it as a second helping of afterthought, a little bonus message tucked away at the very end. The term PPS is a clever abbreviation, stemming from the Latin 'post postscriptum,' which quite literally means 'after the postscript.' So, if PS means 'written after,' PPS means 'written after that which was written after.' It’s a delightful linguistic dance, isn't it?
In practical terms, it’s that extra little note you add when you’ve already added your initial PS. Perhaps you forgot to mention a crucial detail, or maybe you just had a sudden burst of inspiration. For instance, imagine writing a letter inviting a friend to a party. You've included the date, time, and location in the main body. Then, you remember to add a PS: 'Oh, and don't forget to bring your famous potato salad!' But then, a moment later, you think, 'Wait, what if another friend might want to join?' That's the perfect moment for a PPS: 'PPS: Please tell Ellis he's welcome to come too.' It’s a way to add a final, friendly flourish without having to rewrite the whole thing.
While the punctuation can sometimes vary – you might see PPS, P.P.S., or even pps – the intention remains the same: to add a final, often more personal or urgent, piece of information after the initial postscript. It’s a charming quirk of written communication, a little wink from the writer to the reader, acknowledging that sometimes, our thoughts just keep on coming.
It’s a practice that bridges the gap between formal correspondence and the spontaneous nature of conversation. In our fast-paced digital world, where emails and messages often replace traditional letters, the spirit of the PPS lives on. It’s that extra line in an email, that quick follow-up text, that little something you add when you just can't help yourself. It adds a layer of warmth and personality, making the communication feel more genuine and, dare I say, more human.
