12 Headstone Inscription Tips

1) Choose Someone to Oversee the Task

Choose someone who will be the one person in your family who can do the research, figure out what it should say, and just get it done. It is wise to have someone who can accept input from other family members, but having too much input can lead to more issues than resolutions. So best to keep the one person in charge and take advice, but ultimately have the final say. It might not please everyone, but that’s life. It is better to have one person in charge who will make a good job of it. And in the end, as long as the name and dates are on there, it will be just fine.

2) Take Your Time

A headstone is a big purchase. Do not be pushed into something you do not want or rushed and end up forgetting something important, like making a mistake on the birth or death date. It is important to simply take the time to think through what you want it to say. The wording, the font, the style. All should be considered. Then, once you have everything, double-check the spelling and date from the birth certificate and also the date from the death certificate. You will be surprised how easy it is to get a birth or death date wrong, especially with all the stress surrounding the death, funeral, and burial. Take your time.

3) Keep it Simple

Simple minimalism is always classy and always in style. You simply cannot go wrong by keeping it short and sweet.

Oftentimes, headstones can involve so many bells and whistles, add-ons, and personalized options. The choices can be overwhelming. With so many options out there, it seems like you have so many ways to get it just right. But in reality, you have so many ways where it can go wrong.

We recommend going for understated class. Name and dates are a must. Then consider a brief inscription or quote. Keep the ornamentation simple. Having a flower or a cross will often look way better than engraved or sublimated images of dogs and kids.

When you keep it simple, you will not only keep the costs down but end up with a better and more beautiful headstone.

4) Avoid Following Trends

Choose lettering and styles that are timeless, because following trends can age the headstone. Serif fonts will always look good on a headstone. One choice you can make is to choose between all-caps and a mix of upper and lowercase or a combination of both styles and it will look great.

We recommend avoiding script, styled, and sans-serif fonts. These can look cool, and maybe they’ll be in style again. But maybe not! And then you may have some regret about the decision.

5) Avoid Humor

We know, the deceased probably had a wonderful sense of humor. However, humor on a headstone is a tricky preposition. Something that seems funny today might not seem quite as witty in a few years. Cultures and tastes change, and the written word is much different than a joke told in person within a given context or with a certain delivery.

Overall, it is just too difficult to capture a sharp, fun sense humor on a headstone in a timeless way. Save those quips for the memorial scrapbooks and photo albums and keep the headstone simple, classy, and timeless.

6) Remember Your Loved One is Already Unique

People are personalizing their funerals more than ever, which can lead to crazy things like fireworks, dance parties, and even Viking sendoffs. All of that is of course fine, but you also want the memorial to reflect reality. Each person already unique and sometimes pushing towards the extreme is simply overcompensation.

Perhaps it is all a way to work through regrets or come to terms with a difficult situation, which is understandable. However, it is perfectly acceptable to decide that the personalization of their name and dates is enough. Because it is. They were always enough. So remember, your loved one already is unique and there is no way that any phrase, poem, or image can capture them completely or perfectly. And that’s ok.

7) Choose a Good First Line

Everyone does “In Loving Memory.” It is a classic for a reason and totally perfect to use. However, this is an area where choosing alternative opening lines is a nice place for creativity. Here are some common opening lines you can consider for the headstone:

• Here Lies
• Gone Too Soon
• In Remembrance
• In Honored Memory Of
• A Life Well Lived
• In Memoriam
• In Cherished Memory Of
• At Home
• In Treasured Memory Of
• In Fondest Memory Of
• Happy Memories Of
• At Rest

8) Avoid Clutter

In a similar vain of “keep it simple,” it is a good idea to avoid clutter whenever possible. For example, instead of writing out the entire birth and death dates, some headstones are adorned with only the years. Any way to avoid clutter on the headstone will lead to a cleaner and refined look.

9) Aim for Emotional Resonance

The descriptive line that comes after name and date is another one that can easily become cluttered if you are not careful. Many inscriptions are cluttered with adjectives and attributes that lose focus of the point. Instead, choose a well-composed sentence that sums up what you are trying to say in a sweet and swift manner.

10) Get Inspiration by the Classics

If you find it difficult to create your own emotionally resonant inscription, it is wise to find inspiration by the best. You can choose a line from a poem, hymn, song, Scripture, or famous author. These are words that have already had a profound impact on many people, so it is perfectly okay to use these in words of remembrance for your loved one.

11) Ask Headstone Maker Their Opinion

This, of course, is a case by case basis, since some people will just do their job and that’s it. However, there are also people on the other side of that coin who will advise you on some aspects. After all, this is their profession and they have seen it all. So if you are a little lost, then do not hesitate to ask questions. You might get some meaningful input that informs your decision on how to proceed with the headstone.

12) Think About Return Visits

It is important to try to think ahead when it comes to having a headstone. You should think about what headstone inscription, quote, or description of your loved one will you treasure a year from now? Or five years from now? Not just how you feel today. What will stir up the fondest memories and warm your heart each time you visit?

It is wise to just keep it simple. Think about the character qualities that truly resonate in the person and go with your heart. Those are the words you will recognize and treasure at each return visit to the grave site.