Differences and Similarities Between Business Letters and Memorandum

 

DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BUSINESS LETTERS AND MEMORANDUM MEMORANDUM

DIFFERENCES MEMORANDUM Business memos are usually internal, that is between employees within a business, company or organizaon. Busine Bus iness ss memo memoss are are short short and and to to the poin point. t. Memos use short sentences, less formal language, and bullet points to convey important informaon.

BUSINESS LETTER Business leers are usually between two businesses or a business and its clients. Busine Business ss leer leerss are are lon long g and in in det detail ail.. Business leers are in more formal language and important informaon is conveyed in paragraphs.

Memos are general as it addresses mulple recipients. A memo can have a number of purposes. It can: - distribute news and informaon to mulple recipients. - convey thoughts or opinions for immediate reacon. - call people to acon or to a meeng.

Business leer is specic as it normally goes to a specic recipient. The basic purpose of business leer is a formal way of communicang between two or more pares. These leers can be informaonal, persuasive, movaonal, or promoonal.

Example:

Example:

Tuesday the 19th we will have three Japanese execuves vising our premises. Pleased note the following:  Morning coee recepon (Board  Room) 9-10am (mandatory for key sta).   Visitors will be touring oce and producon areas.   Lunch breaks should be arranged to insure coverage in all departments.

Regarding your visit to our company facilies on May 19th, we are pleased that you will be spending the whole day with us. A welcome recepon has been organized from 9:00 10:00 a.m. in our Board Room, which will give you an opportunity to meet key sta members. Following the recepon, representaves from each department will be available to answer your quesons as you tour the oces and facilies. Your sales representave, Jason Dodge, will be hosng lunch.

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Jason will host lunch (let him know if you are available).

Memos are are based based upon single single infor informaon maon to

Mulple Mulple topics topics can can be cov covered ered in a business business

 

be passed on.

leer.

SIMILARITIES 

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Leers and memos both are wrien forms of communicaon used in business. business. With each one, you will need to indicate who you are sending the communicaon to. In the case of a leer, you put the person or company's name and address on the leer before the salutaon. In the case of a memo, this informaon is indicated in the "To" eld at the top of the page.

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Leers and memos also include the name of who is sending the communicaon. If  you are sending sending a leer leer on compan company y leerh leerhead ead,, it indica indicates tes the name name of the the comp compan any y and and th the e ma mail ilin ing/ g/st stre reet et addr addres ess. s. In the the case case of a larg large e co corp rpor ora aon on,, personalized leerhead indicang the name of the sender may be used. A memo also includes the name of the person iniang the communicaon. This informaon is placed in the "From" eld at the top of the page.

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In busi busine ness ss,, the the date date th the e comm commun unic ica aon on was was sent sent is an im impo port rtan antt piec piece e of  informaon. This is always noted on a leer or a memo. In a leer, the date is placed aer the inside address and above the salutaon.

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Both forms of wrien communicaon need an informave subject. Recipients of  leers or memos want to get some idea what the communicaon is about at a glance gla nce.. Th The e subjec subjectt lin line e tells tells them them the purpos purpose e of your your commun communica icaon on.. When When wring a memo, the subject maer is typed in the "Subject" or "Re" eld.

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Both technical wring communicaon tools require certain formats to be followed. Informaon provided on a document other than the format is not acceptable.

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Both inform someone of a happening or they instruct someone to do something.

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At mes memo and leers act as directors to direct something.

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Both require proof reading and expert opinion before release.

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Both have dierent dierent paerns and types as well e.g. Business Business leers, Formal leers, Informal leers, Lab report memo, Field memo, Response memo.

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Both have conversaonal and personal style of delivering any informaon.

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Both focus upon good impression and presentaon.