| Coverage : The Sympathy Card Etiquette Quiz will test your knowledge of writing proper sympathy and condolence cards and letters.
The Sympathy Card Etiquette Quiz questions are carefully crafted so you can gauge how much you really know about this delicate issue. |
| 1. | You should always refrain from too much familiarity with loss when penning a sympathy card (ie., "I know just how you feel"). |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
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| 2. | Within what time period should you send your sympathy card? |
| a. | | Within 1 month of the death |
| b. | | As soon as you can send a card |
| c. | | Within 2 weeks of the death |
| d. | | Anytime within 6 months is appropriate
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| 3. | Who should you address the sympathy card to if you didn't know the deceased or the family, but know someone grieving the death. |
| a. | | The widow or widower |
| b. | | The family in general, sent to the deceased's home |
| c. | | Send the card to the funeral home, in the name of the deceased |
| d. | | Send the card to the person you know, regardless of their relationship
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| 4. | What comment is generally NOT appropriate to put on a sympathy card? |
| a. | | "With deepest sympathy" |
| b. | | "Call me if you need anything" |
| c. | | "(He/She) will never be forgotten" |
| d. | | "Always in our hearts"
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| 5. | No matter how close you are to the family, you should always include your last name when signing your sympathy card. |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
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| 6. | If you are grieving and receive a number of sympathy cards, how should you acknowledge them? |
| a. | | Call the senders when you are feeling up to it |
| b. | | No reply or acknowledgement is necessary |
| c. | | Send notes of thank you as soon as you can |
| d. | | As soon as you receive them, respond with a preprinted card
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| 7. | Etiquette experts say only one rule should guide you when writing a condolence card. What is it? |
| a. | | Acknowledging the great life of the deceased |
| b. | | Recognizing the pain of the family left behind |
| c. | | Affirming the power of religion to soothe souls |
| d. | | Saying what you truly feel
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| 8. | Proper grammar and sentence structure should not be tantamount concerns when writing a sympathy card. |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
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| 9. | When there is a death where it truly is "for the best" (ie., someone has been invalid for many years and has suffered), how should this be handled in the sympathy card? |
| a. | | The card should be written in the style of any other |
| b. | | Acknowledge the illness or accident that befell the person many years before |
| c. | | Say "it's really for the best" while acknowledging the family's suffering and the deceased's suffering |
| d. | | The wording should be even more delicate than usual
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| 10. | If, for whatever reason, you can't send a thank you note, what is a common (and accepted) alternative? |
| a. | | A pre-printed condolence card purchased from a funeral home |
| b. | | An email |
| c. | | A phone call |
| d. | | Sending your verbal condolence via another friend or family member
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| 11. | It is never appropriate to include money in a condolence card, even to a new widow with young children. |
| a. | | True |
| b. | | False
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| 12. | Who should send sympathy cards? |
| a. | | Close friends of the deceased |
| b. | | Close friends and family of the deceased |
| c. | | Family, friends and co-workers of the deceased |
| d. | | Anyone acquainted with the deceased
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| 13. | Etiquette experts prefer people send one style of sympathy card. What is it? |
| a. | | Pre-printed "drug store" card that help the giver get their feelings across |
| b. | | Blank notes that allow the sender to express their thoughts and sympathies in their own words |
| c. | | Sympathy cards provided by funeral homes |
| d. | | Cards engraved with the giver's name
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| 14. | If someone has died a violent death and you want to somehow acknowledge the particular pressure the family is under, how do you express this in your sympathy card? |
| a. | | You don't |
| b. | | You can very gently broach the topic |
| c. | | Gently broach the topic but focus on the deceased's accomplishments and life |
| d. | | Be open about it; the grieving family usually appreciates this
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