Memo Writing
Keep a memo concise, scannable, and reader-oriented. Conventional elements such as To, From, Date, and Subject are common, but headings, length, section names, attachments, and house format vary by organization and purpose.
A professional memo communicates a focused internal purpose quickly. Use a clear heading block as required by the organization, open with the purpose or action needed, organize the discussion around the reader’s decisions, and close with next steps or requested action.
Key details
Further guidance
Closing
End with the action, deadline, recommendation, or contact point the reader needs rather than a generic closing sentence.
Discussion
Organize the body with short paragraphs, informative headings, and lists where they make the decision path easier to scan.
Header
Use the organization’s required header fields. A common pattern is To, From, Date, and Subject, but do not override a mandated house template.
Opening
State the purpose early so the reader knows whether the memo informs, recommends, requests, records, or decides something.
Worked Example
For a policy-change memo, lead with what is changing and when, explain the reason and operational effect, then list the actions each team must take.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Memos: General Introduction (opens in a new tab)Purdue Online Writing Lab · Current professional-writing guidance defines memos as a distinct internal organizational correspondence genre while noting organizational variation.
- Memos: Format (opens in a new tab)Purdue Online Writing Lab · Current guidance provides conventional memo structure while explicitly allowing organization-specific formatting variation.