GUIDELINES
- In writing a letter of offering sympathy for the friend or a family, courteously recognize the receiver's hardship while giving him or her comfort and encouragement. Be tactful, truthful and genuine while you write the letter, if possible, write it by hand and on a personal stationery.
- Make him or her feel your sympathy.
- Reminisce the deceased's significance on the reader.
- Give additional sympathy and encouragement.
SAMPLE LETTER
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Letter Date]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-
Dear [Recipients Name],
I would like to express my deepest sympathy at the death of your lovely daughter. We spent many wonderful years at school and college and shared some of the best years of our lives together. There was no one I felt closer to, and I have lost a dear friend.
I have enclosed some of our recent correspondence with this letter; they show what an incredible woman she had become. These letters show just how glad she was that you were her mother, as she would speak to you at length and she loved you very much.
Sincerely,
[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-
[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -
Sample condolence letter for the death of someone's daughter.
Further things to consider when writing sympathy letters to acquaintances
Sympathy Letters
Sympathy letters are letters you write to express sorrow and concern for someone else's misfortune. Maybe this person has experienced a huge personal loss or was recently divorced. Perhaps you know of an expectant mother who has just experienced a painful miscarriage. These are the times you just need to find the right words to say the right things. Drafting a sympathy letter will bring great solace to the recipient, who may keep the letter for years and read it over and over again. The purpose of this letter is to let the recipient know that you know what he/she is going through and that he/she can count on you during this difficult time.
The best sympathy letters are those that are genuine and come from the heart. Be brief and mention how you learned about the news. Be empathetic and sensitive with your words. Be careful not to give advice when none is needed. Do not try to compare your loss with theirs. Encourage the recipient simply and honestly. Offer your help and support but do not make promises that you cannot keep. End the letter with an expression of affection, sympathy, or comfort
Letters to Acquaintances
Letters to acquaintances are letters you write to people that you know slightly, but who are not close friends. An acquaintance could be a colleague at work but whom you do not interact with on a regular basis, a person you went to school with but know little about him/her, or your Facebook contacts whom you interact with on a minor level. You could write a letter to this person to ask for a favor, invite him/her to a social event, or just pass some information. Although most people would opt for a social media message or text, a well-drafted letter will make the recipient see the seriousness of the matter and feel obliged to return the favor.
The best letters to acquaintances are warm, sweet, and friendly. Begin the letter with a proper salutation, based on your relationship with the recipient. State the purpose of the letter and be clear about what you want from the recipient. If you are asking him/her to do something for you, for instance, mention why you think he/she is the best person to get it done. Make the letter short and only provide the necessary details. Conclude on a positive note.
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