Memo is short for Memorandum. No, it is not random. Memos are how we communicate with other people inside of our group, business, or other organization. Why not just write a business letter, you ask? The short answer is that business letters are for communicating with people OUTSIDE of our group, business or organization. Memo is for Inside, Letter is for Outside. Got it?

Okay, but what does a memo actually look like? How will I know I'm looking at one when I see a memo? Here is a sample in PDF format. Also, here is one you can view without Adobe reader:

How we communicate with others matters. In fact, it matters a lot. Even today, when VIDEOs are wildly popular, it's not always the best way to get your message to others. Writing is VERY powerful, but communicating in writing has its pitfalls. When you communicate in writing, you cannot convey all the information you might normally get across by speaking face to face, because your reader cannot see the person's face. They cannot get clues about your attitude towards them, and you can't get clues as to whether or not they understand what you are trying to say. 

On the flip side, one barrier to persuading others is your age. Many grown ups will look at you and think, "You are just a kid. What do you know?" But in writing you can level the playing field. If you present yourself well using an accepted format, you can often get others to see your point, and win them over.

But what is an accepted format? There are 2 main formats: Full Block, and Modified Block.

This is an example of a letter done in the full Block Format. Here is another one. See how they are different? You could leave off the return address altogether if you were printing your letter on Letterhead stationery.

There are several parts of this letter that all have names and specific qualities. You can learn the Vocabulary of the business letter here.

Modified Block will follow...