People discover explanation for receiving letters with 'P' written on envelope

31 December 2023 , 14:16

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There's a reason why some postal workers write P on letters (stock image) (Image: Moment Editorial/Getty Images)

Some perplexed people have been receiving envelopes with the letter P handwritten on them - and it turns out there's a reason behind it.

A letter has to go through a complicated process before arriving in your postbox - from being stamped by the sender to going to a sorting centre before it's delivered. Sometimes you might end up with certain markings or things scrawled on them - but what do they mean?

Taking to Reddit, one person recently asked: "Can anybody tell me why all my letters the last few days have had a 'P' symbol written on them?" The forum user accompanied the comment by a picture of a 'private and confidential' letter, with a capitalised P handwritten on the plastic window area of the envelope.

And while the forum user was flummoxed, others believed they knew exactly why this had happened - and it wasn't anything sinister. One person explained that the postman, or postwoman, would have written it themselves as a reminder.

They explained: "It's the postie's way of reminding themselves that when they come to post your letter there's also a parcel for you. That's so they don't post your letter then find out halfway down the street they forgot to knock and give you your parcel. Or sometimes they'll write P10 or something on the previous letter - that lets them know they have a parcel for next door (number 10) but no letter."

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Another agreed, writing: "It means Parcel. For either yourself or the next delivery. It's a reminder for the postman / postwoman. However, a postman shared: "I've delivered all sorts of letters with stuff on the back. Reminders, Tracey telling Dave her pin code. Shopping lists etc etc. Don't assume it's the postie'."

In another recent Reddit posts, people were discussing the uniform of postal workers - asking why they a lot of the time seem to be comfortable wearing shorts - even in cold weather. Addressing the reason, one person shared: "It really is just because it gets hot doing the job. One round I wear trousers just because of the wind but it's that particular village that happens to be the highest point of the town and is a massive wind tunnel. All other rounds I'm in shorts pretty much all year."

Another agreed, saying that they didn't want to be "sweating" all day, writing "If it was an extreme day I might throw on waterproofs over my shorts, something I can easily slip on and off as the need arose", with someone else sharing: "Skin is waterproof. Walking all day is hot work."

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz