Interoffice memoranda are used for correspondence within the Secretariat. They are
They are used to record facts, decisions or opinions to which reference may be necessary later, to
make or respond to proposals or to convey information. They are incorporated in the official files
Each memorandum should normally deal with one subject only. Where a memorandum
requires supporting analysis or detailed statistical information, these should be set out in an
Interoffice memoranda should be prepared on letter-size paper headed “INTEROFFICE
Opposite the printed word “To”, the name of the addressee preceded by “Mr.”, “Mrs.”,
“Miss” or “Ms” should be typed, followed by his or her official title. The section, division and
Memoranda addressed to more than one person may be prepared in any of the following
The names and titles, followed by the names of the division or section and the department
opposite the word “To”. If the sender and the addressee(s) are in the same department, the
department is mentioned only once. This applies also to the forms indicated in subparagraphs (b)
and (d) below. If the word “Through” is not applicable, it may be deleted to provide extra space.
The original should be sent to the senior addressee and copies to the other addressees;
46
♦
The names and titles, followed by the name of the division or section and of the
department or office, in abbreviated form if necessary, may be given on a separate page, in
which case the words “See attached list” should be typed opposite the word “To”; a
memorandum may be addressed to groups of addressees, such as “All directors and chiefs of
section”, and reproduced in ditto or in any other appropriate form;
♦
a memorandum may, if there are many addressees, be typed on ditto, with the name of the
addressees given in a separate list, as in subparagraph (b) above;
♦
a memorandum may be typed once, with the name omitted after “To”. It may then be
photocopied and the names may be inserted on each of the copies. Where desirable, the list of
addressees may be attached.
When a memorandum is sent through an intermediary, the name of the intermediary, normally
preceded by “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “Miss” or “Ms” and followed by the official title, should be typed
after the word “Through”. The section, division and department should appear on the next line,
with the department in abbreviated form if space is not sufficient. If the sender and addressee are
in the same department, the department may be omitted from the address of the sender.
After the printed word “From” the name of the sender (without “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “Miss” or
“Ms”) should be typed, followed by the senderls official title. The section or division and the
department should appear on the next line.
A concise statement of the subject matter should appear opposite the printed word “Subject”.
The subject should be typed in lowercase letters with an initial capital for the first word and in
single spacing. It should be underlined completely, whether on one line or more. If any of the
elements mentioned above is too long to fit on one line, the text may be continued, indented two
spaces, on a second line.
The date - given in the form “29 June 19 ” - and the reference number should be entered in the
appropriate spaces provided on the right-hand side of the page.
If a memorandum is confidential and/or personal, the word "CONFIDENTIAL” or
“PERSONAL” or the words “PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL” should appear one and one-
half spaces below the word “Reference”.
On all carbon copies the initials of the drafting official, in upper-case letters followed by an
oblique line and the initials of the typist, also in upper-case letters, e. g. AB/CD, should be typed
ending two spaces from the upper right-hand corner of the page.
When two or more persons collaborate in the drafting of a memorandum, the initials of all of
the persons concerned should be given, those of the person having primary responsibility being
given first, e. g. AB/CD/EF. If a person makes minor changes on a draft prepared by someone
else, his or her initials should not appear.
The left-hand margin should normally be aligned with the printed word “Subject” (see exhibit
62). If the memorandum is short, the margin may, for aesthetic reasons, be aligned with the first
letter of the typewritten indication of the subject (see exhibit 63). The right-hand margin is of
about 15 spaces when the left-hand margin is aligned with the first letter of the word “Subject”,
and of about 20 spaces when the memorandum is short and the left-hand margin is aligned with
the first letter of the typewritten indication of the subject.
The text of a memorandum should begin four or more lines below the last line of the subject,
depending on the length of the memorandum. Single spacing is normally used, although short
memoranda (15 lines or less) may be typed in one-and-one-half spacing.
Interoffice memoranda should be signed or initialled either beside the name of the sender at the
top of the page or at the end of the text. (From “United Nations Correspondence Manual”)
Достарыңызбен бөлісу: