Sympathy Card Wording

Sympathy Card Wording

Like most other types of writing, composing a sympathy card is an art. It is something that should not be taken lightly (as many powerful yet delicate emotions are at stake), but one that should not be overbearing, either. Indeed, maudlin and aggrandized expressions only burden a heavy heart and thus, it is important to find the right balance between sympathy and pity without the application of any insincerity whatsoever. When one considers sympathy card wording, the first thing that should come to mind is a haiku: short and meaningful with carefully selected, delicate words.

So, where does one begin? Well, the first thing to consider, obviously, is with what the person with whom we are sympathizing is afflicted. Perhaps it is the loss of a loved one. In this case, one should be sure to be as oblique as possible - certainly, there should be no mention of anything that could stir up memories of blissful autumns in the company of a lost one. In fact, there should be no mention of losing anything at all - only a short statement reminding that person that there are other people in his or her life that still care. "Just thinking of you," or "We/I just wanted to show that I/we care," with "with all my/our sympathy" or something similar above the signature line should suffice. The logic behind this is twofold - not only is avoidance of negative recollections paramount, but sending a generic message to a grieving person that has inevitably seen it about a thousand times already would defeat the purpose.

Sympathy Card Wording