Memo Writing

Memos Are Internal Messages

(within an organization)
 Email has taken over.
 They vary widely in formality
– Formal, casual, or in between (semi-formal)
 Typically they have a distinctive form:
– Date, To, From, Subject
– Sometimes Department, Territory, Store Number,
Copies to

2
 Types of Memo

– Request Memo
– Confirmation Memo
– Ideas and Suggestions Memo
– Announcement Memo
– Solutions to Problems Memo
 The Memo heading (1)

Date:
write the date on which the report is completed in
month-day-year format (e.g. October 31, 2018)

To:
write the recipient’s name and surname, followed by
their position in the organisation
(e.g. Pambo Leiro, Student)
 The Memo heading (2)

From:
write your name and surname, followed by your
position in the organisation
(e.g. Panos Panayiotou, Senior Instructor)

Subject:
the subject line needs to have a TOPIC and a FOCUS,
(e.g. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVED MEMO WRITING)
 The Memo heading (3)

DATE: October 31, 2018

TO: Pambo Leiro, Student
FROM: Panos Panayiotou, Senior Instructor
SUBJECT: SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVED MEMO
WRITING
 INTRODUCTION

State what led to the writing of the memo and

what the memo aims to achieve:

Example:

I will be unable to attend this week's lecture. Thus, I

am going to share with you tips about writing effective
memos. Following are some essential memo-writing
techniques.
 DISCUSSION (Main Body)
Develop your points one-by-one in a specific structure:
Example 1 (itemization):
 DISCUSSION (Main Body)
Develop your points one-by-one in a specific structure:
Example 2 (paragraph form):
 CONCLUSION
Summarize and tell the reader what to do next, using
goodwill:

By using these techniques you will be able to

communicate successfully. If you have any questions,
please drop by my office. I'd be happy to share more
info with you.