In "stuffy" style, the memo might look like the following:

All faculty and staff personnel are hereby given notification that they should perform the registration function to ensure that their private, multi-purpose motor vehicular units are in a registration relationship with Carson-Newman during the period of time of the upcoming 2007-2008 academic school year. Said year begins August 20, 2007. Each of the above-mentioned personnel categories should have a Carson-Newman registration decal in an affixed position on his/her vehicular unit prior to the previously mentioned date. The subject decal may be purchased beginning on the date of August 1 2007 and terminating upon the date of August 20, 2008. Subject decal will remain in a current valid condition until the expiration date of August 15, 2008.

For registration purposes, a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) will be assessed for each and every vehicular unit registered with Carson-Newman College. The individual faculty or staff member or his/her spouse, in order to engage in the performance of registration-type activities, must make an appearance at the traffic office facility to make completion of the procedure. A currently valid registration plate number and operator-type license must be provided for the registration process activity.

A faculty/staff member who discovers himself/herself in a posture of a delinquent assessment situation pertaining to unauthorized parking violation-type activities will not be permitted to engage actively in the said registration procedure of his/her vehicular unit until any and all assessment situations are paid in full. A failure to perform the registration activity for a transportation module that subsequently is found to utilize Carson-Newman property, owned or leased, for parking purposes, will render the vehicle to an immediately-towed situation. Owners of subject units shall be assessed for unauthorized parking activities.

Prompt performance of the registration procedure is herewith and forthwith encouraged in order to avoid any unnecessary delay situation by engaging in the registration procedure at the last minute. This office facility is open for its intended business on Mondays through Fridays of each week, 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (mornings) and from 1:00 pm to 4:00 p.m. (afternnoons).

If you compare the memo with the original, you can see the difference in tone, word-choice, and phrasing:

A registration fee of fifty dollars ($50) will be required for each motor vehicle registered with the college. The individual faculty or staff member, or his/her spouse, must come by the traffic office to register the motor vehicle. Registration plate number and a valid operator's license must be provided for the registration process.

A faculty or staff member with delinquent assessments for parking violations will not be permitted to register a motor vehicle until all assessments are paid. Failure to register a motor vehicle that utilizes college property, owned or leased, for parking privileges will subject the vehicle to immediate towing.

Prompt registration is encouraged in order to prevent unnecessary delays by registering at the last minute. This office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

What does this memo look like in a (1) plain and personal style, (2) stuffy style or (3) sweet style?

Back to style page.