condolences

[English4everyone]

How would you express your feelings in a formal way if you heard about someone's death? What would you say?I know one good way is: "please accept my condolences."

 

[SoothingDave]

That would be the formal way. "I'm sorry for your loss" is another.

 

[Barb_D]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

 

[Rover_KE]

Please accept my sincere/deepest sympathy.

 

[English4everyone]

I came to another problem. When somebody offers his condolences and says one of the sentences above, what can we say in answer? Just "thank you" is ok?

 

[emsr2d2]

I [STRIKE]came to[/STRIKE] have another problem. When somebody offers his condolences and says one of the sentences above, what can we say in answer? Is just "Thank you" [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] OK?

Yes.

 

[Cathy Miller]

When writing words of condolences On behalf of someone, you can say it like this "I am very sorry to hear your loss and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family." Be nice and tender, sensitive, sympathetic and caring. At some point, it may relieve the pain the feel and comfort the bereaved.

Cathy,

 

[emsr2d2]

When writing words of condolences On behalf of someone, you can say it like this "I am very sorry to hear your loss and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family." Be nice and tender, sensitive, sympathetic and caring. At some point, it may relieve the pain the feel and comfort the bereaved.

Cathy,

I agree in part, but be careful with offering "prayers" to someone. If they are not religious, this has the potential to upset them. I would stick with "My thoughts are with you and your family".

 

[hoangkha]

Once I wrote simply to a friend of mine in an email "My condolences to your family" when heard about his father's death.
Is it all right, please?

 

[SoothingDave]

Once I wrote simply to a friend of mine in an email "My condolences to your family" when heard about his father's death.
Is it all right, please?

Yes, it's fine.

 

[SoothingDave]

I agree in part, but be careful with offering "prayers" to someone. If they are not religious, this has the potential to upset them. I would stick with "My thoughts are with you and your family".

I would not automatically assume that any non-believer would take offense at the prayers of a well-wisher. Finding it amusing or ineffectual or superstitious, yes.

Of course, this may vary by culture.

 

[5jj]

I would not automatically assume that any non-believer would take offense at the prayers of a well-wisher.

I assure you that some of us do.

This forum is not the place to discuss why. You'll just have to take a non-believer's word on this: we can be really offended by the offer of prayers.