Learn Hardcore Japanese: koreigai ni ii houhou ga areba, yosan to issyo ni memo ni kaite. - If you have a good method other than this, write it down with the budget on a memo.

これ以外に: adverbial “besides this/other than this.” Example idea: これ以外にいい方法があれば…
これ以外の: attributive “(a) … other than this” modifying a noun. Example: これ以外のいい方法.
これ以外は: contrast/topic “except for this, …” Often followed by a negative or contrast. Example: これ以外は必要ありません. In this sentence, これ以外に modifies the whole clause “if there is a good method,” meaning “if there’s any good method besides this (one).”

Why is 方法 marked with が and not は?

が marks the subject of existence in an “there is/are” statement and introduces something not yet established in the conversation. いい方法があれば = “if there exists a good method.” Using は would topicalize it and feels off unless you’re contrasting known sets (e.g., speaking specifically about “good methods” as a topic already in play).

What’s the nuance difference between あれば, あったら, and あるなら?

あれば: neutral/logical “if,” a bit more formal or written-feeling; good for instructions.
あったら: casual, real-world “if/when (there happens to be).”
あるなら: conditional based on a given assumption or condition (“if it’s the case that there is”). All are acceptable here; the choice tweaks tone/register slightly.

Why use いい instead of よい?

They’re the same adjective. いい is the standard colloquial form; よい is more formal/literary. In business writing you’ll often see kanji 良い, but speech and everyday writing commonly use いい.

What does 予算と一緒に mean? Does it imply including an amount?

Yes. 予算と一緒に means “together with the budget,” i.e., include the budget figure/estimate along with the method. Alternatives:

予算も一緒に (include the budget too)
予算も添えて (attach/include the budget; a bit more formal)
予算込みで (with budget included)
Business style: 予算と併せて

Why メモに書いて and not メモを書いて?

メモに書く = “write [it] on/in a memo (as the medium/target).”
メモを書く = “write a memo” (compose/produce a memo as the object). Here the idea is “put it on a memo,” so メモに書いて is appropriate. The direct object (what to write) is omitted because it’s clear from context.

Is it okay to use the plain 書いて as a request? What about politeness?

The bare 〜て form works as an informal request/command. It’s casual and can sound curt depending on context and relationship. Politer options:

書いてください (polite)
書いておいて (write it down and have it ready/leave it there)
More formal/business: メモにご記載ください／記載願います

Why is it メモに and not メモへ or メモで?

〜に書く marks the surface/target you write on.
〜へ is for direction (“toward”) and isn’t used here.
〜で marks the means/tool: e.g., ペンで書く (“write with a pen”), not the surface.

What exactly is being written? There’s no object before 書いて.

Japanese often omits obvious elements. The implied object is “that (method/idea/details)”—e.g., それ or その方法—understood from context.

Can I replace これ以外に with ほかに?

Yes. ほかにいい方法があれば is very natural. Nuance: ほかに is general “other (than that/what we have),” while これ以外に explicitly points to “other than this (specific thing).” Both are fine here.

Can I change the word order around 予算と一緒に and メモに?

Yes, word order is flexible as long as particles stay attached:

予算と一緒にメモに書いて (original)
メモに、予算も一緒に書いて
予算も一緒に、メモに書いて Minor shifts don’t change meaning. Keep と一緒に close to the verb phrase it modifies, and keep particles intact.

What’s a more formal/business-like version of the whole sentence?

Examples:

これ以外に良い方法がございましたら、予算と併せてメモにご記載ください。
これ以外に良い案があれば、予算も併せてメモに記載してください。 Even more formal: end with お願いいたします or use ご提示ください for “please present/submit.”

Can I use 案 or アイデア instead of 方法? Any difference?

方法: method/procedure (how to do it).
案: proposal/plan/suggestion.
アイデア: idea (loanword; casual). Use whichever best fits what you’re asking for. In brainstorming, 案 or アイデア may feel more natural.

Why is it ある and not いる in があれば?

ある is for inanimate objects and abstract things. 方法 (a method) is inanimate/abstract, so ある is correct. いる is for animate beings (people/animals).

How do you read the kanji here?

以外: いがい
方法: ほうほう
予算: よさん
一緒: いっしょ
書いて: かいて
メモ: めも (katakana loanword)

Is the comma after あれば necessary?

Not strictly. It’s common to insert a comma to separate the conditional clause for readability: …があれば、… You can omit it in short sentences, but most writers include it.

Does と一緒に only work with people? Is it okay with things like 予算?

It works with both. Xと一緒に means “together with X,” whether X is a person or a thing/element. Formal alternatives with things: と共に（ともに）, と併せて（あわせて）.

Could I say これ以外のいい方法があれば instead of これ以外にいい方法があれば?

Yes. Both are natural:

これ以外にいい方法があれば (adverbial “besides this”)
これ以外のいい方法があれば (“a good method other than this”) The meaning is effectively the same here; it’s just a structural difference.