Message examples are original editorial text. For general principles about supporting bereaved people—such as listening, acknowledging the death, avoiding minimizing phrases, and offering specific help—we consult established bereavement and health organizations.
Core reference organizations
- Cruse Bereavement Support — what to say when someone is grieving
- NHS — grief after bereavement or loss
- Marie Curie — supporting someone who is grieving
- Tommy’s — supporting someone after miscarriage
- Sands — supporting someone whose baby has died
- Samaritans — supporting friends and family after a suspected suicide
- Blue Cross — Pet Loss Support
- Child Bereavement UK — what to say to a grieving young person
How sources are used
External sources inform principles, not copied message libraries. We write examples independently and adapt guidance to the specific writing decision on each page.
What each source is used for
General bereavement communication, listening, continued contact and practical support.
High-level background on grief and when a writing guide should defer to professional health support.
Pregnancy and baby loss, especially acknowledgement and avoiding minimizing language.
Suicide-bereavement language, nonjudgmental listening, privacy and avoiding blame or speculation.
Clear, age-appropriate communication with children and young people.
Recognition of pet bereavement and the importance of companion-animal relationships.
How the pages are produced
We use a structured editorial library so related guides can share accuracy and sensitivity checks without becoming identical. Relationship-specific language, channel guidance, examples, source notes and related links are chosen by page type. We do not invent facts, memories, religious beliefs, causes of death or private family details.
Limits
Bereavement practices vary by family, culture, religion, language and circumstance. A public writing guide cannot know those details, so the recipient’s preferences should override generic etiquette.
Source hierarchy
For bereavement-support principles, we prefer established bereavement charities, public health services and specialist organizations for pregnancy and baby loss, suicide bereavement, child bereavement and pet loss. A source is used for the topic it actually covers.
What a citation means
A citation means the external organization supports the nearby general principle. It does not mean that organization wrote, reviewed or endorsed our copy-ready messages. Those layers are kept separate.
How we handle variation
Bereavement customs differ across cultures, religions, families, workplaces and communities. Where a practice is not universal, we avoid presenting it as a rule and use conditional language instead.
Source maintenance
References are rechecked during substantive editorial reviews. If a source moves or no longer supports the principle, the citation or wording should be updated rather than retained for appearance.
Page-level source mapping
Original message examples do not need citations. Guidance about bereavement communication is connected to organizations that actually cover the circumstance. Child bereavement, pregnancy and baby loss, suicide bereavement and pet loss use specialist references rather than relying only on a general grief article.
Source-informed does not mean clinically reviewed
Unless a page explicitly names a qualified reviewer and that review can be verified, readers should not assume clinical, pastoral or legal review. This is an editorial writing resource and should defer to professional help when the need becomes medical, legal, safeguarding-related or urgent.