Sympathy Words - How to Write Words of Sympathy in Cards and Letters

Sympathy words in a letter or sympathy card can be an encouraging ray of light to someone who has recently lost a loved one. After a death, things can seem bleak and depressing, and words of sympathy are often a helpful way for the bereaved to cope with their loss. Receiving mail from friends and loved ones showing that they care in a difficult time is a great source of comfort.

As a friend of the bereaved, however, finding the right sympathy words to show how much you care can be difficult. has free examples of sympathy words and sayings you can use to help you write your own sympathy card or letter.

Finding the right sympathy words, although not an easy task, is well worth the time and effort you'll spend. The survivor will receive many pre-printed sympathy words in the form of cards and other greetings, but very few handwritten sympathy messages. By taking the time to write your own words of sympathy on a purchased greeting card, you're showing your friend that they're special to you and that you sincerely want to help them through a difficult time. Your words of comfort and support will serve as a reminder of your love for the deceased, and may be treasured for years to come.

Sympathy Words - How to Write Words of Sympathy in Cards and Letters

Tips for Writing Sympathy Words

When you sit down to compose your letter or card, be transparent about your feelings. Don't feel that you need to "dress up" your words, use flowery language, or be excessively fancy. Instead, write your sympathy message as if you're speaking to your friend face-to-face. They'll appreciate a genuine message from your heart more than a contrived sympathy message that you had to work to write. There are many sample sympathy words for cards and letters available online that can give you a clear idea of what to write.

If you're sending a card, you can either write your message on the non-printed area inside, or jot it on a piece of stationary and tuck it into the card. If writing a letter, take the time to pen it by hand. Don't send a sympathy letter printed on the computer or a card with your signature pre-printed - you want the sympathy message to be as personal as possible.

Send your sympathy words in a timely manner. A general rule of thumb is to mail out the card or letter no more than two weeks after the death. This generally means that your words of sympathy will arrive shortly after the funeral - a time when your loved one will need them most. If you've procrastinated, however, don't feel as though you cannot send your sympathy message. Your heartfelt words are sure to be appreciated, even if they're a bit delayed.

Words of Sympathy to Include in Your Message

There are some basic elements that should always be included in a sympathy letter. By including all of these elements, you'll end up with a nicely written sympathy letter each time you need one, without struggling to find the right words.

First, you should sincerely express your sympathy for your loved one's loss. Mention the deceased by name, and refer to them casually or by a nickname if appropriate. Avoid using overly formal language if you had a friendly relationship.

Secondly, include a memory of the deceased if possible. Mention their character strengths or endearing qualities, and demonstrate to the survivor that their loved one will be missed.

Last, choose a personal closing for your letter. Use words that show the reader that they're in your thoughts, such as "Wishing you Peace" or "Thinking of You". Generic greeting such as "Sincerely", while appropriate, lack a personal touch.

Sympathy words can be difficult to write, but are always appreciated. By taking the time to write genuine words of sympathy and send them to your loved one, you're demonstrating how much you care and showing them that their family member will be missed. By using these tips and guidelines, you can craft sympathy words that will encourage and comfort your friends and family in difficult times.

Sympathy Words - How to Write Words of Sympathy in Cards and Letters
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Melanie Walters recommends ObituariesHelp.org for Free Sympathy Words and Sayings examples, genealogy resources, guides to building a family tree, written examples of eulogies as well as help with funeral planning.

Melanie Walters is a writer and editor for http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ the complete online resource for sympathy, obituaries, genealogy and funeral help. Find free words of sympathy messages, sample sympathy words and sympathy sayings; newspaper obituaries listings; research your ancestry, genealogy and family tree.

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Sympathy Words - Writing Words of Sympathy and Comfort

It's never easy to lose someone you love. It's even harder when someone you know loses someone they love. We go to the funeral home, attend the wake and meet people we haven't seen in a while. It is during this time that we say sympathy words and do things that are meant to comfort those who are grieving. Some people are not able to attend any kind of gathering, and may instead choose to put their thoughts and wishes of comfort into a sympathy letter or card.

Writing Sympathy Words is Not as Difficult as You May Think.

All it takes is a little empathy and some reflection. Chances are pretty good that you knew the deceased at least well enough to have had some good memories involving that person. After their passing, it is often comforting to others to hear or read about these happy times.

Sympathy Words - Writing Words of Sympathy and Comfort

Another important thing to keep in mind when you are writing sympathy words and condolence letters is to be sympathetic. People suffering the emotional pain associated with the loss of a loved one need to know that someone else is hurting the same way. In order to find the right words, imagine yourself in their situation and try to imagine how they must feel.

Definitely don't try to pretty up your letter too much. So many people think that it will help someone to read flowery and over descriptive language, but going overboard with that kind of style can come off as a bit insincere.

Keep Your Sympathy Words Simple

A lengthy letter or card can discourage a grieving person from reading the whole thing. Reading a long letter takes energy, and nobody really wants to spend that kind of effort to read a lengthy letter while crying. Instead of writing a lot of words, try choosing a few sympathy words wisely. You can communicate a vast amount of information with a simple sentence or two about how you will miss the deceased and will always remember the good times that you shared together.

Don't forget to mention that happy memory of the person. Mention how that person affected you in life and what his or her death means to you. Family and friends of the deceased like to hear about how that person affected or changed someone else's life, hopefully for the better. Use positive words to describe that person or their personality, such as devoted, faithful, patient, or kind.

Of course, you know that when someone is grieving, they must do it in their own way. Don't offer them unhelpful advice like 'Keep your chin up'. That's the last thing anybody wants to hear at a time like this. Aside from being the wrong thing to say, they probably will have heard it several dozen times anyway, so it can actually end up sounding a bit contrived.

When Offering Your Sympathy, Words May Not Always Be Enough

Offering help of some sort is also useful. Many grieving family members simply doing household chores can be more difficult than normal. Offer to make dinner, go to the store with them, or help out with yard work. They will appreciate the extra help while they are going through this difficult time.

Finding the right way to express words of sympathy in a letter can be easy, but writing words for the sake of writing words can actually be harmful. Remember that the person you are writing to is grieving, and they don't want to hear or read certain things. They've heard it all before from countless others, so you'll need to be sincere in offering your condolences. No sympathy words can truly take the pain of a loss away, but finding the right ones can let someone know that you are thinking of them and you know how they're feeling. Even if you don

Sympathy Words - Writing Words of Sympathy and Comfort
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Melanie Walters recommends ObituariesHelp.org for Free Sympathy Words and Sayings examples You can find examples of sympathy words at ObituariesHelp.org that will help you say just the right thing in a card or letter.

Visit http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ for genealogy resources, guides to building a family tree, written examples of eulogies as well as help with funeral planning and product reviews like online flowers delivered.

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