Cirkulärer

Cirkulär (plural cirkulärer) is a formal written communication used to disseminate information, policies, or instructions within an organization or to a broader audience. It is designed to reach multiple recipients, rather than to address a single person, and frequently functions as a policy notice, administrative directive, or informational update.

In government and public administration, cirkulärer are issued to communicate decisions, guidelines, or compliance requirements across agencies, municipalities, and contractors. In the private sector, companies use circulars to announce policy changes, safety procedures, HR rules, procurement guidelines, or training schedules. The term is common in Swedish and other Scandinavian languages; in English, “circular” or “circular letter” is used with a similar meaning.

Typical features include a formal tone, a clear subject line, date, reference numbers, and a distribution list. The document may include attachments and is often intended to be kept on record. Depending on jurisdiction, some cirkulärer have legal or regulatory weight, or are binding within the organization, while others are purely informational.

Format and channels: Historically printed and mailed, today most cirkulärer are distributed electronically via email, intranet, or document management systems. Proper archiving and indexing are common to ensure retrieval and compliance auditing. The strategy is to ensure uniform dissemination and minimize misinterpretation.

Etymology: The term derives from circulus “little circle” in Latin, via French circulaire, and denotes a document meant to be circulated among a group. In many languages, cognate terms exist with similar function.