ps
ps — noun
1. The letters 'P.S.' that introduce a short afterthought written beneath the main
The letters 'P.S.' that introduce a short afterthought written beneath the main content of a message, after the signature or closing line.
Aylin added a short P.S. to her email to remind her boss about the deadline.
P.S. for brief reminder at end of email
After signing the letter, Arjun wrote 'P.S. — Please bring dessert!' below his name.
Kofi always reads the P.S. first when he receives a letter from his cousin.
The email ended with a funny P.S. that made Rodrigo laugh during the meeting.
Mizuki forgot to add a P.S. thanking Noa for the birthday gift in the card.
- afterthought
refers to the thing added rather than the notation itself; less common in writing
- postscript
the full word that 'P.S.' stands for; more formal than using the abbreviation
- addition
a general term; lacks the specific letter-writing convention
用法筆記
P.S. is almost always written in capital letters with periods, though informal writing sometimes uses 'ps' without capitals.
常見錯誤
ps — abbreviation
1. A written short form for 'picosecond', a unit of time equal to one millionth of
A written short form for 'picosecond', a unit of time equal to one millionth of a millionth of a second, used in science and technology.
The laser pulse lasted only one picosecond but captured the movement of atoms on film.
ps as unit of time in scientific context
Iker read that the new processor can complete a calculation in under one picosecond.
Antonia measured the reaction speed in picoseconds using a high-speed camera in the lab.
Ravindra learned in physics class that light travels about 0.3 millimetres in one picosecond.
用法筆記
In scientific writing, 'ps' is the standard symbol for picosecond and appears without periods.
常見錯誤
2. The abbreviation used in Bible references to refer to the Book of Psalms, a coll
The abbreviation used in Bible references to refer to the Book of Psalms, a collection of religious songs and poems in the Old Testament.
The minister read a comforting passage from Ps during the Sunday morning service.
Ps in biblical citation context
Ari found encouragement in the words of Ps chapter twenty-three when feeling worried.
The Bible study group was asked to memorise three verses from Ps this week.
During the funeral, the pastor read a well-known passage from Ps about finding peace.
用法筆記
When citing Bible verses, 'Ps' is followed by the chapter and verse numbers (e.g. Ps 23:4).
常見錯誤
3. The written short form 'ps' used instead of the word 'postscript', especially in
The written short form 'ps' used instead of the word 'postscript', especially in notes, footnotes, or informal writing where extra information is added.
In the footnote the writer used 'ps' to mark a brief postscript to the article.
ps as abbreviation for postscript in academic note
Ezra noticed the small 'ps' at the bottom of the handwritten note before the signature.
Historians copying old letters usually keep the original 'ps' mark exactly as it was written.
Ryo added 'ps: I will call you tomorrow' below his short email to Noa.
用法筆記
When used as an abbreviation in running text rather than as a heading, 'ps' is often written in lowercase without periods.
4. A short form written in car manuals, advertisements, and reviews for 'power stee
A short form written in car manuals, advertisements, and reviews for 'power steering', a system that makes it easier for the driver to turn the steering wheel.
The car manual says the ps system helps the driver turn the wheel more easily.
ps as abbreviation for power steering in vehicle context
Ravindra took the car to the mechanic because the ps was making a strange noise.
Michael checked the advertisement and saw that ps was listed as a standard feature.
Hiro checked the oil level in the ps system before the family road trip.
5. A short form used in the United Kingdom for 'public school', meaning a private f
A short form used in the United Kingdom for 'public school', meaning a private fee-paying school for older students, as opposed to a state-funded school.
In Britain many families pay high fees to send their children to a ps.
ps as abbreviation for British public school
Rodrigo read an article comparing exam results at state schools and ps in England.
The term 'ps' in the UK means a private school, not a government-funded one.
Mizuki found it odd that a British ps charges fees while state schools are free.
- state school
a school funded by the government, which is free to attend
用法筆記
This abbreviation is mainly used in British educational writing and is confusing for learners because 'public school' in the UK means a private school, unlike in most other English-speaking countries.