main formatting different between a memo an a academic paper

Answer 1

A memo could be in the past, present or future tense whereas an academic paper is usually in the past tense.

A memo could be written naming people (Sally will do....; Fred has....) or using pronouns (I did...) whereas an academic paper is more often written in the third person.

Memos are often in a personal style whereas academic papers are often written to a 'in house' style so that they all have a similar structure.

Hope this helps.