Can AI help me write a sympathy card?
Yes. It helps you write a few honest lines with a real memory and a specific offer of help, without the cliches that can sting.
01Why bot
- Finding words in hard moments is where a draft helps most.
- It avoids phrases like 'everything happens for a reason'.
- Your memory is what makes it meaningful.
Sponsor slot · openFeatured tool for this task. A labeled card for one relevant tool.
Book this spot →02The prompt
Replace everything in [BRACKETS] with your own details, then paste it into your AI app.
You are a writer who helps people say the right thing in hard moments. Who I'm writing to: [PERSON, RELATIONSHIP] Who they lost: [PERSON] A memory or something I knew about them: [MEMORY] What I can offer: [MEALS, HELP, NOTHING SPECIFIC] Your task: write the card. Rules: - MUST be 3 to 5 sentences. - MUST include my memory and a specific offer if I have one. - NEVER say 'everything happens for a reason' or 'I know how you feel'. Give me: 2 versions.
03Steps
- Think of one real memory.
- Run the prompt.
- Write it by hand in your own words.
04What can go wrong
- Keep it short; long isn't better here.
- Follow through on any offer you make.
05What to use
Any major AI chat app.
06Our test runs
2 runs, each with a different made-up sample. 1 of 2 passed every check.
Run 1 · Llama 3.3 70B · graded by GPT-OSS 120BOct 13, 2026Passed
The made-up sample:
[PERSON, RELATIONSHIP]my dear friend Sarah Miller[PERSON]her mother, Margaret Miller[MEMORY]I’ll always remember how Margaret used to host our Sunday brunches, filling the house with the scent of fresh cinnamon rolls and her warm laugh.[MEALS, HELP, NOTHING SPECIFIC]I can bring over a few meals next week and help with any errands you might need.
- Must include memory
- Must include specific offer
- Must not use forbidden phrases
- Didn't make up details we never gave it
What came back (excerpt):
Dear Sarah, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, Margaret. I'll always treasure the memories of our Sunday brunches at her house, where the scent of fresh cinnamon rolls and her warm laugh filled the air.
Read the full answer
Here are two versions of the card: **Version 1** Dear Sarah, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, Margaret. I'll always treasure the memories of our Sunday brunches at her house, where the scent of fresh cinnamon rolls and her warm laugh filled the air. If there's anything I can do to support you, I'd be happy to bring over a few meals next week and help with any errands you might need. My heart goes out to you during this difficult time. **Version 2** Dear Sarah, my heart is with you as you grieve the loss of your beloved mother, Margaret. I'll never forget the wonderful Sunday brunches she hosted, filling her home with the delicious smell of fresh cinnamon rolls and her infectious laugh. I'd like to offer some practical support - I can bring over a few meals next week and help with any errands you might need, so please don't hesitate to reach out. May you find comfort in the memories of her love and warmth.
Verify each version contains 3‑5 sentences.
Run 2 · Llama 3.3 70B · graded by GPT-OSS 120BNov 8, 2026Passed with a catch
The made-up sample (a messier one):
[PERSON, RELATIONSHIP]my neighbor Tom, the guy who always borrows my tools[PERSON]my brother's friend Alex, who passed away suddenly[MEMORY]I still remember the afternoon we tried to fix the old fence together and ended up laughing when the paint cans tipped over, and Alex kept joking about his terrible DIY skills[MEALS, HELP, NOTHING SPECIFIC]I can drop off a couple of homemade soups this week and help with any errands or yard work you might need
- Include the fence‑painting memory
- Include the soup and yard‑work offer
- Do not use prohibited phrases
- Card sentences (7 sentences, counted by code)
- Didn't make up details we never gave it
What came back (excerpt):
Here are two versions of the card: **Version 1** Dear Tom, I was saddened to hear about the loss of Alex, your friend and my brother's friend.
Read the full answer
Here are two versions of the card: **Version 1** Dear Tom, I was saddened to hear about the loss of Alex, your friend and my brother's friend. I still chuckle when I think about the time we tried to fix the old fence together and ended up in a mess with paint cans tipping over - Alex's jokes about his DIY skills always brought a smile to my face. If there's anything I can do to support you during this difficult time, I'd be happy to drop off some homemade soup this week or lend a hand with any errands or yard work. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything. **Version 2** Dear Tom, my heart goes out to you as you grieve the sudden loss of Alex, a friend who brought so much joy to those around him. I'll never forget the afternoon we spent trying to fix the fence, laughing and joking together as we made a mess with the paint cans - Alex's good humor and teasing about his lack of DIY skills are memories I'll always treasure. If you need any help with errands, yard work, or just a warm meal, I'd be happy to drop off some homemade soup this week. I'm here for you, and please don't hesitate to ask if there's anything else I can do to support you.
Make sure each version stays within the 3‑5 sentence limit.
How each run works: we fill the prompt with a made-up sample, run it once in Llama 3.3 70B, and GPT-OSS 120B grades the answer against the prompt's own rules. Word limits are counted by code, and every quote flagged as made up is checked against the full answer. Your results can differ. How we test.
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