The Elements of Business Writing - Essay Example

An advantage of issuing memos is that they can be archived and referred to in the future, especially when the information is key. This minimizes disputes, since unrecorded conversations can be distorted or forgotten, and can easily be retrieved when categorized and stored properly. Although a memo is an informal letter, it should still indicate relevant information so that receiving parties can act accordingly. Such information includes the addressees of the memo, date, name of the sender and most importantly, the subject of the matter.

A memo can be distributed internally or posted in the company's bulletin board.On the other hand, a business letter is very formal because more likely than not, it is intended for external parties. As such, the format of a letter differs greatly from that of a memo. A business letter includes the recipient's name and address, date, salutation, subject, the body of the letter, complimentary close and signature of the sender. Sometimes, an enclosure is included if required. In addition, a business letter must be printed using the company's letterhead.

The writing method used in a business letter should be formal, polite and serious to indicate the level of professionalism. The content of a business letter should also be clear and concise. A business letter is usually sent by post or courier.*** End ***