You are on page 1of 6

The Writing Center | Writing Business Memos | Guides 14/2/22, 7:10 am

!"#$%&'$()*(+,,-.*/0$*/1(2-3.*(-4(5$3.6/$4

!"#$%&'()&*"+',-"(%
!

THE WRITING CENTER


"#$%& !'$()%*&+(, !-$./)0$1) !233&!&03!'$()%*&4(&) !-.+&+(,!53)$%.63)

7$.!8.49%4&3!:&%93(&) ! 7$.!746%*&;

!"#$%& " Writing Business


!"#$%&'#()#*+,-)./ Memos
0)1-#2-%3(

45(6./#%78#9%''6./
:)65/
$-6(67<#I1'67/''#L/+)'
!"#$%"
48.65/#)7#;/((67<#=,
&'()*+,
%78#$)->67<#?6(@#% !"#$%&'%#%()'&*+''%,+,-.
-.+'/(&,
$-6(67<#A-)1,
&(0!1
4#C1'67/''#+/+)#6'#%#'@)-(#8)51+/7(#1'/8#() 2/).3$
48.65/#3)-#$-6(67<
9/-')7%B#;(%(/+/7(' (-%7'+6(#673)-+%(6)7#?6(@67#%7#)-<%76M%(6)7N )"
L/+)'#%-/#5@%-%5(/-6M/8#C&#C/67<#C-6/3O#86-/5(O &%%(-.+'/
4BB#4C)1( ,
D)17(/-%-<1+/7(' %78#/%'&#()#7%.6<%(/N#J@/&#%-/#B/''#3)-+%B#(@%7
B/((/-'#C1(#'@)1B8#+%67(%67#%#,-)3/''6)7%BO
4BB#4C)1(#E/'1+/
$-6(67<
'155675(#'(&B/N#P3(/7O#(@/#,1-,)'/#)3#%#C1'67/'' Writing in
+/+)#6'#(?)3)B8Q#()#68/7(63&#%#,-)CB/+#%78 Different
494#;(&B/#F165>GA168/
,-),)'/#%#')B1(6)7N#P(@/-#(6+/'O#+/+)'#+%& Genres
D)7./-(67<#H-%<+/7(' ,-).68/#)-#-/K1/'(#3%5(1%B#673)-+%(6)7N# '()*+$",)#+(&
()#H1BB#;/7(/75/' -($
I1'67/''#+/+)'#%-/#8/'6<7/8#()#%55)++)8%(/ .+(,/"&#+(&
I-%67'()-+67<
J/5@76K1/' C1'&#-/%8/-'#?@)#?%7(#()#R78#(@/#673)-+%(6)7 0+*
1"2-(#)#%&
(@/&#7//8#3-)+#(@/#+/+)#K165>B&#%78#/%'6B&N#*7
D@65%<)#D6(%(6)7#;(&B/ 3-4%*&
F165>GA168/ ?-6(67<#%#C1'67/''#+/+)O#&)1#'@)1B8#'(-15(1-/
5-6#(78'(9
&)1-#+/+)#()#%55)++)8%(/#(@-//#>678'#)3 ./-&&8:&&-;

https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-business-memos Page 1 of 7
The Writing Center | Writing Business Memos | Guides 14/2/22, 7:10 am

D@))'67<#I/(?//7 -/%8/-'Q :<-2&


*7R76(6./#%78#A/-178Q =*#)#(78-(
SJ)#8)T#)-#S8)67<TU J@)'/#?@)#-/%8#)7B&#(@/#/`/51(6./ >?&)*-,)
D@))'67<#(@/#D)--/5( '1++%-& =*#)#(78-
$)-8#H)-+ J@)'/#?@)#'>6+#(@/#/7(6-/#+/+)#3)-#6(' @,#%()#A,
B%&%-*,C
D)@/'6)7#%78 >/&#,)67('#%78#%#3/?#8/(%6B'#(@/&a-/
B%4+*)
D)@/-/75/ 67(/-/'(/8#67 D'EB-FG
D)+C6767<#DB%1'/'#() J@)'/#?@)#-/%8#(@/#/7(6-/#8)51+/7( '()*+$",)#+(
4.)68#D)++%#;,B65/'O 3)-#(@/#8/(%6B'#(@%(#'1,,)-(#6('#+%_)- @%,)#+(&8#(
E17G)7'O#%78 @,#%()#A,
5B%6+'#)-#-/5)++/78%(6)7'
H-%<+/7(' B%&%-*,C
I/%-#67#+678#(@%(#(@/'/#-/%8/-'#+%&#@%./ B%4+*)&
D)++%'O#;/+65)B)7'O D'EB-FG
%78#D)B)7' 86\/-/7(#,1-,)'/'#67#-/%867<#(@/#+/+)N#P3(/7O
'EB-F
-/%8/-'#7//8#()#+%>/#,)B65&#%78#%5(6)7 E%)C+$
D)++)7#$-6(67<
J/-+'#%78#D)75/,(' 8/56'6)7'#C%'/8#)7#(@/#-/5)++/78%(6)7'N @%,)#+(
2/R7/8 P(@/-'#+%&#?%7(#()#)C(%67#',/56R5#673)-+%(6)7 'EB-F
]/.68/75/^#7//8/8#()#178/-'(%78#%78#_1'(63& B%&"/)&
D)17(#.'N#V)75)17(
F#&,"&&#+(
V)17' ,)B65&#%78#%5(6)7#8/56'6)7'N#E/%8/-'#+%&#%B')
.+(,/"&#+(
?%7(#()#</(#%#'/7'/#)3#&)1-#,-)3/''6)7%B#%C6B6(&
D-6(65%B#E/%867< @%,)#+(&8#(
%78#_18<+/7(N @,#%()#A,
2/R76(/#%78#*78/R76(/ B%&%-*,C
4-(65B/' *7#8/(/-+6767<#(@/#,1-,)'/#%78#%186/75/#)3 B%4+*)&
&)1-#+/+)O#%'>#&)1-'/B3Q#$@)#6'#(@/#67(/78/8 D'EB-FG
W86(67<#D@/5>B6'(
-/56,6/7(#)3#(@6'#+/+)U#$@%(#8)#*#?%7(#(@/ H%I&8=*#)#(7
4#A168/#()#477)(%(/8 J"($-2%()-/
I6CB6)<-%,@6/' -/56,6/7(#()#8)#%3(/-#-/%867<#(@/#+/+)U#$@%(
&
673)-+%(6)7#?6BB#(@/#-/56,6/7(#C/#B))>67<#3)-#67
A168/B67/'#3)-#9)'(67< =*#)#(78-
()#26'51''6)7#I)%-8' (@/#+/+)U#J@/'/#>678'#)3#K1/'(6)7'#?6BB#@/B, 3+I%*3+#()
<168/#&)1-#5)7(/7(O#'(-15(1-/O#%78#'(&B/ 3*%&%()-)#+(
X/8</'Q#;)3(/767<
5@)65/'N# =*#)#(7
DB%6+'#67#45%8/+65
K"&#(%&&
$-6(67<
"-!%/-%&%!0&$+%#*%+11+2$&3+%()'&*+'' L%))%*&
X)?#()#$-6(/#% ,+,-. =*#)#(7
E/'/%-5@#F1/'(6)7 K"&#(%&&
E%2+&
*+,-).67<#D)@/'6)7Q 4'#'(%(/8#%C)./O#%7#/\/5(6./#C1'67/''#+/+)#6'
J@/#YZ7)?7[V/? C-6/3O#86-/5(O#%78#/%'&#()#7%.6<%(/N#J@/#3)BB)?67< =+*$8K-(68+0
D)7(-%5(Y K"&#(%&&
R./#?-6(67<#'(-%(/<6/'#@/B,#-/%8/-'#()#7%.6<%(/ 5%*2&
C1'67/''#+/+)'#/%'6B&#%78#K165>B&Q =*#)#(7
:M%,)#N%

https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-business-memos Page 2 of 7
The Writing Center | Writing Business Memos | Guides 14/2/22, 7:10 am

*7(-)815(6)7#;/5(6)7' !"# 03/,/$)()*/(4&+$(5"+$)(63,)7#J@6' 5-/6#(7


67#;56/7(6R5#E/'/%-5@ 3+#()&
+%&#C/#(@/#'67<B/#+)'(#6+,)-(%7(
E/,)-('#]*LE%2^ =*#)#(7
<168/B67/#%C)1(#(@/#'(-15(1-/#%78
D)75B1'6)7#;/5(6)7'#67 3%*&+(-/
5)7(/7(#)3#+/+)'N#E/%8/-'#'@)1B8 @)-)%2%()&
;56/7(6R5#E/'/%-5@
E/,)-('#]*LE%2^ K165>B&#<-%',#(@/#5)7(/7(#%78 0+*81%-/)C
'6<76R5%75/#)3#(@/#+/+)N#*3#-/%8/-' 3*+0%&&#+(&
*7(-)815(6)7'#%78 >//8>?+")
@%./#%#K1/'(6)7#)-#,-)CB/+O#(@/&
D)75B1'6)7'#3)- B%&"2%
X1+%76(6/'#9%,/-' ?%7(#()#>7)?#(@/#%7'?/-#)-#')B1(6)7
=*#)#(7
6++/86%(/B&f63#-/%8/-'#?%7(#+)-/
Lb4#c#.N#Lb4#dQ#$@%(e' >$N#,%80+*
86\/-/7(U 673)-+%(6)7O#(@/&#5%7#5)7(671/ =*#)#(7
-/%867<N#*7#)(@/-#?)-8'O#'1,,)-(67< 3%*&+(-/
Lb4#D6(%(6)7#;(&B/ @)-)%2%()&
F165>GA168/ 8/(%6B'#'@)1B8#!"##"$%(@/#+%67#,)67(
=*#)#(78.+N%*
)-#5)75B1'6)7O#7)(#,-/5/8/#6(N
L)8%B#:/-C' L%))%*&
$"# 8&+$)&+$(&(53"9/,,+"$&%:(,.;;+$;)
!"#$%/#(%&
V/?'#$-6(67< ,)<%/7(J@/#'(&B/#)3#&)1-#?-6(67< 0+*83+&)#(78)+
H178%+/7(%B'
'@)1B8#C/#%,,-),-6%(/#()#&)1- F#&,"&&#+(
P7B67/#E/')1-5/'#3)- %186/75/Q#*7#(@6'#5%'/O#&)1-#%186/75/ K+-*$&
*+,-).67<#A-%++%- 6'#&)1-#C)''O#&)1-#5)?)->/-'O#)- @%($#(7
%78#$)-8#D@)65/#67 :2-#/8)+
$-6(67< C)(@N#;)O#&)1-#'(&B/#'@)1B8#C/
J-,"/);8-($
,-)3/''6)7%BO#'(-%6<@(3)-?%-8O#5)-86%BO >$2#(#&)*-)+
P-<%76M%(6)7%B#L%,' *&
%78#/%'&#()#-/%8N#J)#%5@6/./#'15@#%
P1(B6767< '(&B/O#1'/#'@)-(O#%5(6./#'/7(/75/'N 3*+?/%2
3*+4+&-/&
P./-.6/? 4.)68#_%-<)7#%78#,-/(/7(6)1'
B%7<1%</N#L%67(%67#%#,)'6(6./#)-
9%-%BB/B#;(-15(1-/
7/1(-%B#()7/g#%.)68#7/<%(6./
9B%<6%-6'+ B%7<1%</#63#,)''6CB/N#*7#%886(6)7#()
9-/,)'6(6)7' +%>67<#+/+)'#/%'6/-#()#-/%8O#%
,-)3/''6)7%B#?-6(67<#'(&B/#%B')
9-)CB/+#9-),)'%B'
6+,-)./'#(@/#?-6(/-e'#5-/86C6B6(&N
9-)7)17' %"# =3/&)/(&(>/3<(,5/;+6;(,.?@/;)(%+$/
9-),/-#V)17' )"(-+>/()*/(3/&'/3(&$(+44/'+&)/
+'/&("9()*/(4/4"A,(B"3(4/,,&-/A,C
9-).6867<#H//8C%5>#()
$-6(/-' ,.?@/;)(&$'(5.35",/7#J@/#'1C_/5(
B67/#'@)1B8#)-6/7(#(@/#-/%8/-#()#(@/
F1)(%(6)7O#9%-%,@-%'/O
'1C_/5(#%78#,1-,)'/#)3#(@/#+/+)
;1++%-&O#%78#47%B&'6'
%78#,-).68/#%#@%78&#-/3/-/75/#3)-

https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-business-memos Page 3 of 7
The Writing Center | Writing Business Memos | Guides 14/2/22, 7:10 am

E/81567<#*73)-+%B6(&#67 RB67<#%78#K165>#-/.6/?N#;1,,)'/O#3)-
45%8/+65#$-6(67<
67'(%75/O#(@%(#&)1#?/-/#?-6(67<#()
E/./-'/#P1(B6767< -/K1/'(#%1(@)-6M%(6)7#%78#317867<
3)-#%#C1'67/''#(-6,N#0)1a8#%.)68#%
E/.6'67<
</7/-%B#'1C_/5(#B67/#B6>/#Y91CB6'@/-a'
E@/()-65
D)7./7(6)7Y#)-#YJ-6,#()#4$9
E17G)7#;/7(/75/' D)73/-/75/Y#67#3%.)-#)3#')+/(@67<

;%+/#H)-+O#C1( +)-/#',/56R5#B6>/#YE/K1/'(#3)-#3178'Q
26\/-/7(#H175(6)7'Q 4$9#5)73/-/75/NY#J@/#B%'(#/`%+,B/
:%-6)1'#L/%767<'#)3 ?)1B8#(/BB#(@/#-/%8/-#(@/#'1C_/5(#%78
:/-Ch67<#%78#:/-Ch/8
?@%(#'@/#?%'#C/67<#%'>/8#()#8)
;/%-5@67<#3)-#;)1-5/' %C)1(#6(N
)7#(@/#L%')7#b6C-%-&
&"# 03">+'/(&(,.44&3<("3(">/3>+/#("9
2%(%C%'/'
)*/(4&+$(5"+$),:(/,5/;+&%%<(+9()*/
;/7867<#W+%6B#() 4/4"(+,(4"3/()*&$("$/(5&-/7
H%51B(&#%78
48+676'(-%()-' P3(/7#-/3/--/8#()#%'#%7#/`/51(6./
'1++%-&O#(@/#R-'(#,%-%<-%,@#)3#%
;6<7%B#9@-%'/'
B)7<#+/+)#)-#+/''%</#'/-./'#(@/'/
;(-%(/<6/'#3)-#E/%867< 3175(6)7'Q
45%8/+65#4-(65B/'
9-/'/7('#(@/#+%67#-/K1/'(O
;1C_/5(G:/-C -/5)++/78%(6)7#)-
4<-//+/7( 5)75B1'6)7
J%>67<#*7GDB%''#W''%& ;1++%-6M/'#(@/7#,-/.6/?'
W`%+' (@/#+%67#3%5('O#%-<1+/7('
J@/'6'#;(%(/+/7(' %78#/.68/75/
H)-/5%'('#(@/#'(-15(1-/#%78
J@/#J@-//#D)++)7
J/7'/'#='/8#67 )-8/-#)3#673)-+%(6)7
45%8/+65#$-6(67< ,-/'/7(/8#67#(@/#-/+%678/-

J6,'#3)-#45(6./#E/%867< )3#(@/#+/+)
b6>/#(@/#'1C_/5(#B67/O#(@/
J6,'#3)-#V)(/#J%>67<
/`/51(6./#'1++%-&#,-).68/'
J-%7'6(6)7' %#K165>#)./-.6/?#)3#(@/

J1-%C6%7#;(&B/#F165>G ,1-,)'/#%78#5)7(/7(#)3#(@/
A168/ +/+)N#J@/#-/%8/-#1'/'#6(#()
<168/#C)(@#%#K165>#R-'(
=78/-'(%7867<#0)1-
*7'(-15()-e'#9-)+,( -/%867<#%78#'1C'/K1/7(

https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-business-memos Page 4 of 7
The Writing Center | Writing Business Memos | Guides 14/2/22, 7:10 am

='67<#E/815/8#E/B%(6./ -%,68#-/.6/?'N
DB%1'/'#()#$-6(/
D)756'/B& '"# F,/(9"34&)(9/&).3/,:(,.;*(&,

:/-C#J/7'/' */&'+$-,:()"(,+-$&%(,)3.;).3/(&$'
-.+'/(3/&'/3,()"()*/(+$9"34&)+"$
$@/7#()#;1++%-6M/O
)*/<A3/(,//G+$-7#X/%867<'#,-).68/
9%-%,@-%'/O#%78#F1)(/
%7#)1(B67/#)3#(@/#+/+)O#/7%CB67<#(@/
$)-8#I%7>#)3#I1'67/''
-/%8/-#()#K165>B&#'//#?@%(#(@/#+%_)-
J/-+'
(),65'#)-#,)67('#%-/#%78#?@/-/#()
$)-8#P-8/-#67 R78#(@/+#67#(@/#+/+)N#L%>/
;(%(/+/7('#?6(@
W+C/88/8#F1/'(6)7' @/%867<'#,%-%BB/B#?6(@#/%5@#)(@/-
%78#%'#',/56R5#%'#,)''6CB/N#P(@/-
$-6(/-a'#IB)5>
3)-+%(#3/%(1-/'#(@%(#'6<7%B#'(-15(1-/
$-6(67<#%7#4C'(-%5( %78#<168/#-/%8/-'#675B18/#'@)-(

$-6(67<#I1'67/'' ,%-%<-%,@'#%78#CB)5>'#)3#(/`(O#B6'('
b/((/-' '/(#)\#C&#678/7(%(6)7'O#71+C/-'#)-
C1BB/('O#)-#</7/-)1'#1'/#)3#?@6(/
D3+)+$-(E.,+$/,,
8/4", ',%5/#()#<168/#(@/#/&/N

$-6(67<#D)756'/B& '$#*/#0/%,+,-%"+#/&*4
$-6(67<#D)./-#b/((/-'
J@)1<@#(@/#3)-+%(#3)-#%#+/+)#+%&#.%-&#3-)+
$-6(67<#W\/5(6./
)7/#)-<%76M%(6)7#()#%7)(@/-O#(@/#'(%78%-8
J%B>67<#9)67('
@/%867<#5)7'6'('#)3#%#'/-6/'#)3#5B/%-B&#B%C/B/8
$-6(67<#%#;56/7(6R5 B67/'#(@%(#5)7./&#>/&#673)-+%(6)7#%C)1(#(@/
E/'/%-5@#E/,)-(
]*LE%2^ +/+)e'#5)7(/7('#%78#6('#86'(-6C1(6)7N#J@/
3)BB)?67<#%-/#'(%78%-8#/B/+/7('#)3#%#+/+)
$-6(67<#%#b6(/-%(1-/
@/%8/-Q
E/.6/?

$-6(67<#9/-')7%B /5678%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%J@/
;(%(/+/7('#3)-#X/%B(@ 8%(/#)7#?@65@#(@/#+/+)#6'#86'(-6C1(/8
9-)3/''6)7'

$-6(67<#%#9)?/-9)67( $98%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%J@/
9-/'/7(%(6)7 ,/-')7]'^#()#?@)+#6(#6'#,-6+%-6B&#%88-/''/8

$-6(67<#0)1-#H6-'(
]')+/(6+/'#?6(@#_)C#(6(B/^
;/7(/75/

*LE%2#L/(@)8#;/5(6)7 ::8%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%V%+/]'^#)3#%7&)7/#/B'/#?@)#-/5/6./'#%#5),&

https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-business-memos Page 5 of 7
The Writing Center | Writing Business Memos | Guides 14/2/22, 7:10 am

*LE%2#E/'1B(' ]')+/(6+/'#?6(@#_)C#(6(B/^
26'51''6)7
1;9<8
P7B67/#E/')1-5/'#3)-
*+,-).67<#$)-8#D@)65/ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%V%+/#)3
%78#A-%++%- (@/#?-6(/-O#1'1%BB&#3)BB)?/8#C&#@6'[@/-
9/-')7%B#;(%(/+/7('
3)-#A-%81%(/#;5@))B @%78?-6((/7#676(6%B'#]')+/(6+/'#?6(@#_)C#(6(B/^
4,,B65%(6)7'
'=>?7:68%)-#078%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
47#*7(-)815(6)7#()
%D)756'/#'(%(/+/7(#)3#(@/#+/+)e'#(),65
;(-%(/<6/'#3)-
;(-15(1-67<#%78#$-6(67<
E/.6/?'#)3#(@/ #
b6(/-%(1-/

494#;(&B/#F165>GA168/

4B<17)'#-/51-')'#/7
Bí7/%#,%-%#B%#<-%+á(65%
&#/B#.)5%C1B%-6)#/7
/',%ñ)B

b)'#(6/+,)'#&#B)'
+)8)'#./-C%B/'

b)'#%-(í51B)'

P-<%76M67<#b6(/-%(1-/
E/.6/?'Q#48.%75/8

4C'(-%5('#67#;56/7(6R5
E/'/%-5@#9%,/-'
]*LE%2^

E/.6'67<#9-)'/#3)-
D)756'6)7Q#ij#J6,'

;6<7,)'(67<#b%7<1%</
3)-#*+,-).67<#D)@/'6)7

X)?#()#W86(#0)1-#P?7
W''%&Q#;(-%(/<6/'#3)-
L1B(6B67<1%B#$-6(/-'

P-<%76M67<#b6(/-%(1-/
E/.6/?'Q#J@/#I%'65'

https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-business-memos Page 6 of 7

You might also like