便条是一种简单的书信。虽然内容简单，但却有其独特的风格。主要目的是为了尽快的吧最新的信息、通知、要求或者活动的时间、地点转告给对方。常见的便条有收条、欠条、留言和请假条等。
便条可以有题目，也可以省略题目。
便条开篇须有称呼语，但称呼可以比较随便。
日期部分可写在便条的右上角。
日期的签署通常只需写星期几或星期几的上午、下午，也可只写上午或下午和具体时间。只写日期也可以。
便条结尾须署上留条人的姓名，位置在正文的右下角。
便条的形式和内容简洁，故可以用几句话概括。
文内语言尽量通俗口语化，简单扼要，直截了当，无需使用客套语言。
便条虽简单，但中心务必突出，更要注明活动的时间及地点。
便条不需邮寄，不用信封。通常请人代为转交。有时可写在留言板和留言簿上。
基本写作格式
便条内容和类型不尽相同，可以灵活变通。但各类便条必须包括以下几个基本要素；1）Date：便条日期2）Salutation：称呼3）Body：正文4）Signature：署名
样例
收条：即收到钱物之后，给交钱或送物人写张字据，说明已经收到某物，可留作证据。条据上需写明钱物名称和数量、立据人及日期。不得涂改。
Jan.23rd,2003Received from Student, Wang Zihao one hundred yuan only for this months tuition fee.
Li ManFor the Finance Office ofForeign Language Institute
欠条；留下字据，表示欠某人某物。条据上需写明钱物名称和数量、立据人及日期。不得涂改。
Sept. 16th, 2002Borrowed from the Foreign Language Department Reference Library three books as follows:A copy of History and Anthology of English Literature by Wu WeirenA copy of A Survey of American Literature by Chang YaoxinA copy of World Literature by Jiang Chengen
Wu Zhuo
For the Office of
Social Science Department
留言；用书面留下要说的话。留言涉及的方面很多，包括约会，通知，请求等任何可用便条留下的口信。
TuesdayDear Li,As the Spring Festival is drawing near, Im very glad to invite you to come to a dinner party with several other friends of ours. Im sure we will have a very happy time and enjoy ourselves thoroughly.Would you like to come on time at 5:00 p.m. today, to Room 6 of Lijing Hotel?
Yours always, Jiayang
请假条：往往指由于生病或特殊情况不能亲自当面请假，用假条的形式告假。所以，请假条大多是病假条。可以自写，也可请他人代写。写假条最重要的是说明原因和请假的期限。
Jan. 10thDear Ms. Jiang,I am terribly sorry that I shall be unable to attend this mornings two periods of English Class due to a bad cold and high fever. Enclosed is a certificate from the doctor who said I must stay in bed for a few days. I will go back to school as soon as I recover.
Yours respectfully,Tian Ye
常用句子
I shall feel obliged if you will favor me with a call at your earliest convenience.如您方便，请早日来电，我将不胜感激。
Delighted!Will call at 2 p.m. tomorrow.来条收悉，定于明天下午两点拜访。
Encl.: Doctors Certificate of Advice.附；医生证明I shall be bery happy to call at your house at 6:30 this everying. Until then,...我定于今晚6：30去你家，望等候。joozone.com