Anatomy of a Business Memo

BTT10e

Mr. Adorante

What is a Memo?

• Short for memorandum

• A document internal to your company

• Used to transmit information within the company in a formalized manner

Parts of a Memo

Masthead

Header

Rule

Body

(1) Masthead

• Simply the word MEMO at the top of the document

• Font size 20+

• Sans-serif font

(2) Header

• TO: the person the memo is being sent to

• FROM: your name and/or title

• CC: If you carbon copy the memo to someone else

• Date: Date composed

• Re: “Regarding”; brief statement of subject; always last item on header

(2) Header continued

• All titles must be in bold

• Leave a blank line between each header title

• All titles and content should be aligned (tabbed to the same location)

(3) Rule

• A horizontal line extending across the page between the header & body

• Leave a blank line between the header and the rule

• In Corel WordPerfect, go Insert…Shape…Horizontal Line

(4) Body

• The text of the message

• Should be in full sentences & paragraphs

• Text is left-aligned

• A memo may or may not be signed

• Leave a blank line between the rule and the body