honorandum

A memorandum, often shortened to memo, is a written record used for internal communication within an organization. It summarizes information, decisions, or instructions and serves as a reference that may be distributed in print or electronically. The term comes from Latin memorandum, meaning that which should be remembered. The spelling honorandum is rare and generally treated as a misspelling or historical variant; the standard form is memorandum, with memoranda or memos as plural forms.

Common types include legal memoranda, which analyze a legal issue and cite authorities; policy memoranda, which explain proposed policies and their rationale; and memoranda of understanding (MOUs), which record a non-binding agreement outlining roles and terms. In business contexts, memoranda convey decisions, policies, or events to staff and other stakeholders.

Format and style tend to be concise and objective. Memos typically begin with a header containing To, From, Date, and Subject, followed by a body that presents facts, analysis, and recommendations. Clear structure, including bullet points or numbered lists, enhances readability, and attachments or references may be appended as needed.

Legal status and history: memoranda can have evidentiary value and influence contracts or negotiations, but their binding effect depends on context and wording. The practice dates to bureaucratic and legal settings, and digital communication has popularized email memos in modern organizations.

See also: memorandum; memorandum of understanding; legal memorandum; policy memo.