Unit 6. Memos
Memos are a form of business writing that is sent within a company to inform employees of meetings, policy changes, etc.
A memo can be sent to:
1. All Staff members
2. A Department
3. An Individual or individuals
4. A combination of 2 & 3 above
To: All Staff
Or All Staff Members
Or: The Engineering Department
SENDING MEMOS TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS
When sending memos, you need to classify the individuals according to job position.
Example:
To: John Smith – Engineer
If the memo is to more than one engineer:
To: John Smith, Tommy Riley – Engineers
If the memo is to different types of employees, you put each position on a new line. Example:
To: Jane Smith – Engineer
Polly Prince, Dean Jones – Sales Representatives
Note: You would need to use the “tab” key in order to keep the names perfectly indented.
THE SENDER OF THE MEMO
Ideally, there should be a person sending a memo, not a department. This way one would know to whom they could direct any queries. Also, this would be the person signing the memo.
INCORRECT:
FROM: The Human Resource Department
CORRECT:
FROM: Jackson Fraser – Human Resource Manager
DATE
The date should be written as:
July 9th, 2016
OR
9th July, 2016
MEMORANDUM
To: All Sales Representatives
From: Tim O’Reilly - Store Manager
Date: April 10th, 2016
Subject: Mandatory Training Seminar
______________________________________________________________________
Please be informed that following an instruction from the Board of Directors, all sales representatives are required to attend one training session to be held between April 13th and April 17th 2016. Arrangements will be made to accommodate your absence.
Your shift supervisor will inform you of the date and time of your specific session. The sessions are to take place at the Queen’s Hall Auditorium between 7am and 4pm.
Direct any questions to any of the store managers.
Regards
TO
cc: John Smith - Chief Executive Officer
NOTES:
1. Keep subject short, but not too general. Be as specific as possible. Try to avoid using verbs. Nouns are preferable.
2. Use initials instead of a signature. This is not mandatory.
3. Use single spacing and no indentation. Indentation refers to the space from the margin.
4. Be formal when addressing the recipients, if necessary. Use Mr, Ms, Mrs or any other appropriate title. Plurals:
Mr = Messrs
Mrs = Mesdames
Miss = Misses
Ms = Mses or Mss
5. cc refers to courtesy copy (formerly carbon copy), which is given to persons who would need to be informed. It is sometimes placed between "To" and "From".
6. Sometimes you might see "fys" - For Your Signature. In this case, the recipient of the memo would have to sign to confirm receiving it.