通知是上级对下级、组织对成员或平行单位之间部署工作、传达事情或召开会议等所使用的应用文。通知的写法有两种，一种是以布告形式贴出，把事情通知有关人员，如学生、观众等，通常不用称呼;另一种是以书信的形式，发给有关人员，次种通知写作形式同普通书信，只要写明通知的具体内容即可。通知要求言简意赅、措辞得当、时间及时。
例一：布告形式的通知：通常此类通知上方正中写Notice或NOTICE(通知)，发出通知的的单位的具体名称可放在正文前，也可放在正文后，右下角处，发出通知的日期写在左下角处。例如：
NOTICE
All professors and associate professors are requested to meet in the college conference room on Saturday, August 18, at 2:00 p. m. to discuss questions of international academic exchanges.
Aug. 14, 1997
通 知
本星期六(8月18日)下午二时，全体教授和副教授在学院会议室开会，讨论国际学术交流问题，请准时出席。
例二：书信形式的通知
Dear Examinee:
As you know, due to unfortunate circumstances, ETS was forced to cancel the scores of the Octorber 1992 TOEFL administration in the People's Republic of China. At that time, you were notified that you would be able to take another TOEFL without charge up through the October 1993 administration. You should be aware that the TOEFL program has a long standing policy of not refunding test fees when administrations are cancelled.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause to you.
Russell Webster
Executive Director
TOEFL Program
Educational Testing Service