difference between letter and memo

difference between letter and memo

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difference between letter and memo

Despite being quite similar terms, there is a lot of difference between the memo and letter. There is a lot of misconception among the people that they both are the same as they both letter and memo perform the same function. But it is clear and confirmed now that they both are different from each other.

Definition of Memo

The memo is short for the memorandum, which means a note or record for any use in future. It is a short message used as a means of informal communication within the organisation, for transmitting information in writing. It may be titled as interoffice communication, office memorandum, or interoffice correspondence, rather than a memorandum.

The primary objective of memos is to disseminate business policies, procedures or related official business. Moreover, These are written in one to all perspective and can serve different purposes like conveying news, directions and information to multiple recipients, calling people to action or meeting.

One can use an informal tone and personal pronouns in the memo. moreover, There is no requirement to use a salutation and complimentary close.

Memo

• Use: Office memo is used in internal communication. It does not go outside the organization.
• Scope: The scope of memo is limited within the organization.
• Type: Office memo may be formal or informal.
• Formality: Office memo does not require inside address, salutation, and complementary close.
• Presentation of message: Memo describes message without using any ornamental word.

What You Need To Know About Memorandum?

• A memo is used internally within an organization moving upward, downward or horizontally. It is never sent outside.
• A memo does not require return address, salutation or complimentary clause. It uses: To, From, Date and Subject Heading.
• Memo can use technical jargon and abbreviations because their meaning is understood by the people within the organization.
• The information in a memo is concise and straight to the point.
• A memo is typically informal in nature.
• Memos are written to inform or direct, a department or number of employees on a certain matter and so it is usually written from one to all perspective, such as mass communication.
• The memo does not require a signature at the end of the message.
• A memo is generally short in text.
• The memo is interchanged between staff members in an organization.
• A memo usually bears a header of the organization.
• Memo is sent to the recipient(s) by an organization’s messenger and is generally not in an envelope.
• Memos do not contain addresses.
• There are different types of memos such as information request, confirmation, periodic report, suggestion and study results memos.

Definition of letter

The letter is a written mode of communication that is handwritten or printed on a white sheet. It can be sent through mail or post by letter; it is a one-to-one conversation between the parties. In today’s time, emails and texts, and other communication methods have become the norms, while letters’ writing has become old fashion. Till now, a formal kind of communication is done via letters. At the same time, the important mode of communication is done through letters, just like a cover letter for a job or the reminder sending from the bank or acceptance letter from the college. 

Two main types of letter writing are formal letter writing and informal letter writing.Moreover, The other letter-writing types are business letters, official letters, social letters, circular letters, and employment letters. It occurs in formats and forms, adding notes, letters, and postcards. Moreover, The letter is commonly written between friend, family, and lover, which is known as informal letter writing, and the letter exchange between clients is known as formal letter writing.

Letter

• Use: Letters are used both in internal and external communication.
• Scope: Its scope is relatively wider than memo.
• Type: Letter may be personal, official, derni-official and so on.
• Formality: Letter requires company address, salutation and complementary close along with other parts of it.
• Presentation of message: In some letters, ornamental words are used to express courtesy.

Types of Letter

• Formal Letter: These letters pursue a certain pattern and formality. They are strictly kept professional, and directly address the issues concerned.
• Informal Letter: These are personal letters. They need not pursue any set pattern or adhere to any formalities.
• Business Letter: This letter scripted among business correspondents, generally contains commercial information such as quotations, orders, complaints, claims, letters for collections etc.
• Official Letter: This sort of letter is written to inform offices, branches, subordinates of official information.
• Social Letter: Moreover,a personal letter written on the occasion of a special event is known as a social letter. The complimentary or congratulatory letter, condolence letter, invitation letter etc are all social letters.
• Circular Letter: A letter that announces information to a large number of people is a circular letter.
• Employment Letters: Any letters concerning the employment process, like joining letter, promotion letter, application letter etc.

What You Need To Know About Letter?

• Letters are used for internal and external communication. It has also large usage beyond the scope of an organization.
• A letter requires inside address i.e salutation and complimentary clause.
• Letters avoid the use of technical jargons and terms which are not easy to comprehend.
• Letters are more detailed and often elaborate more on the important issues to be done or addressed.
• A letter can be formal or informal in nature.
• A letters is private as it addresses to a particular party or client, so it is a form of one to one interpersonal communication.
• The letter requires a signature at the end of the message.
• A letter can be long or short in text based upon the intention of the message.
• The letter is interchanged between the client of the business or between the friends or from employees to head management of the organization.
• A letter may or may not have a header indicating its origin.
• Letters are normally put in envelopes and posted via mail.
• Letters such as business letters contain both sender’s and recipient’s address.
• There are different types of memos such as official/formal letter, informal or personal letter, business later, social letter, report letter, notice letter, circular letter, order letter, complain letter, employment letter etc.

Main Differences Between Memo and Letter

1. Both letter and memo are a non-verbal mode of communication that is express through writing.
2. The memo is the informal nature of communication used for internal conversation in business. On the other hand, letters are formal and informal in communication, which helps exchange words from clients or send a message to friends.
3. A memo written by a person is more in point, as the message is very short while the letters are longer than the memo.
4. It is not one to one communication, while the letters are one to one interpersonal communication as it is private.
5. No signature is required by writing the memo while the signature is required by writing a letter.
6. Memo uses technical terms in writing content, while letter uses simple terms while writing content.

Memo vs Letter

Animals communicate with each other; information and ideas are shared between them through messages that one sends to another. When the recipient understands what the sender is trying to convey to him, the process is completed.

There are many forms of communication. Communication can be verbal which is the most common and done with words, or non-verbal which is done through body language and visual images or through writing or written communication.
Ancient written communication was done through pictographs written in stone; then paper was discovered allowing written communication to become mobile. It allowed people to communicate with each other even if they are far away through writing letters.

A letter is a message that is sent by a person to another meant to convey information that he wants the person to receive. It can be short or long, and it has many types: thank you letters, personal letters, and business letters.
A business letter is exchanged between businesses and their clients. It contains more words and information and uses formal language. Each word in a business letter is carefully selected and planned for since it is intended for communicating with people who are vital to a business or company. It addresses a specific topic and is sent to specific individuals. a letter can be as long as the sender wants it to be and is meant to be read only by the intended recipient. It is usually sent through a courier or delivered by a representative of the company.

Summary:

1.A letter is a short or long message that is sent by one person to another while a memo is a short message that is sent by a person to another.
2.A letter is more formal and contains more information while a memo is informal and is very short.
3.A memo is more concise and to the point as compared to a letter.
4.A letter is exchanged between businesses and their clients while a memo is exchanged between individuals within an organization.
5.A memo usually has a header that states where it is from and who it is intended for while a letter may or may not have this feature.

Comparison Table Between Memo and Letter (in Tabular Form)

Parameter of Comparison	Memo	Letter
Meaning	A memo is generally a business message used for business purposes to communicate between one department to another or one firm to another.	A letter is a communication mode whose purpose is to convey messages or information or explain situations from one to another.
Lengthy	A memo is generally a short message that usually conveys from one person to another.	The letter is a short or long message that conveys from one person to another.
Nature of Communication	A memo is an informal way of communicating with people.	It can be done in both a formal and informal way.
Interchange	The memo is interchanged between colleagues in the organization.	The letter is interchanged between the clients of the business or between the friends or from employee to head management of the organization.
Relevant	The memo is to the point as it is a very small message to communicate.	The letter is not that relevant as compared to the memo.
Signature	The memo does not require a signature at the end of the message.	The letter requires a signature at the end of the message.
Writing Content	It used more technical terms in a message to communicate.	It used straightforward terms to communicate.