Words That Endure
Inscription Advice
Choosing the words for a memorial is one of the most personal decisions you will make. This page offers inspiration — verses, epitaphs, and guidance on fonts and finishes — to help you find the right words.
The verses and epitaphs below are offered as inspiration only. You are welcome to use them exactly as written, adapt them to suit your needs, or use them as a starting point for something entirely your own. There are no rules — only what feels right for the person you are remembering.
By Relationship
Verses & Epitaphs
Select a category below to expand the verses. Click any verse to copy it, or simply note it down. All verses can be adapted — names, pronouns, and details can be changed to suit.
Classic & Short Epitaphs 15 verses
"Forever in our hearts."
"At peace."
"In loving memory."
"Until we meet again."
"A life well lived."
"Not gone, just gone before."
"Those we love don't go away — they walk beside us every day."
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal."
"Always loved, never forgotten."
"Gone but not forgotten."
"Dearly loved and sadly missed."
"Safe in the arms of God."
"Loved beyond words, missed beyond measure."
"In our hearts forever."
"To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die."
— Thomas Campbell
Verses for Mum / Mother 10 verses
"A wonderful mum, loved and missed every day."
"The world's best mum — in our hearts forever."
"No words can express how much we miss you, Mum."
"Mum — you gave us so much. We will carry your love with us always."
"She was the heart of our family — and she always will be."
"Mum — your love was a gift we will treasure always."
"A mother's love is a blessing, no matter where you roam. Keep her while you have her — you'll miss her when she's gone."
"A loving mother, a gentle soul, a guiding light — now at rest."
"In memory of a wonderful mother whose love will never be forgotten."
"A mother holds her children's hands for a while, and their hearts forever."
Verses for Dad / Father 10 verses
"A wonderful dad — loved and missed beyond words."
"The greatest dad in the world — now at rest."
"Dad — you were our rock. You always will be."
"He lived, he loved, he laughed — and he is loved still."
"Dad — no words are enough. You are missed every single day."
"Dad — your strength, your wisdom, your love. Always with us."
"A loving father, a true gentleman, a guiding star."
"In memory of a devoted father whose love and guidance will never be forgotten."
"A father's love is a gift that lasts a lifetime and beyond."
"He was a quiet man who spoke volumes through his love and his deeds."
Verses for Husbands, Wives & Partners 12 verses
"My beloved husband — my partner, my best friend, my everything."
"Together in life, together in love — and together still in memory."
"A love like yours does not end — it simply changes form."
"Beloved husband and father — the light of our lives."
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning
You were my greatest adventure."
"Devoted wife and loving mother — forever in our hearts."
"You were my home. You always will be."
"My darling — I will love you until my last breath and beyond."
"Cherished wife, devoted mother, irreplaceable friend."
"Death cannot stop true love — it can only delay it for a little while."
— The Princess Bride
"Fifty years together — and not one moment wasted."
Verses for Children & Babies 12 verses
"Too beautiful for this world — but never forgotten."
"A little life that touched so many hearts."
"You came into our lives and changed them forever. You will never be forgotten."
"A short life, but a life full of love."
"Not a day goes by that we don't think of you."
"Loved every moment. Missed every day."
"Our precious child — in our hearts always."
"Tiny hands, tiny feet — a love so complete."
"Our angel — taken too soon, loved forever."
"Safe in the arms of the angels."
"You were our sunshine. You always will be."
"A precious gift, a beautiful soul, a love that will never end."
Religious & Biblical Verses 12 verses
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."
— John 11:25
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
— John 3:16
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
— 2 Timothy 4:7
"In my Father's house are many rooms. I go to prepare a place for you."
— John 14:2
"Safe in the arms of Jesus."
"Asleep in Jesus — blessed sleep."
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
— Psalm 23:1
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
— Matthew 5:8
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more."
— Revelation 21:4
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
— Job 1:21
"Called to God's eternal rest."
"With God, at peace."
Muslim & Islamic Verses 10 verses
"إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return."
— Al-Baqarah 2:156
"Returned to the mercy of Allah."
"In Allah's care."
"Beloved by all who knew them. Now in the care of Allah."
"May Allah have mercy on their soul and grant them peace."
"In the mercy of Allah."
"May Allah grant them Jannah."
"A servant of Allah — now at rest in His mercy."
"Every soul shall taste death."
— Al-Imran 3:185
"Loved in this life. In Allah's hands in the next."
Typography
Font Choices
The font you choose will significantly affect the character and feel of the memorial. Below are the most common styles used in memorial inscriptions, with examples of how each looks in practice.
Times New Roman / Serif
The most traditional choice for memorial inscriptions. Elegant, formal, and highly legible. The serifs (small strokes at the ends of letters) give the text a classical, timeless quality.
Forever in our hearts
Trajan / Roman Capitals
Inspired by ancient Roman inscriptions, Trajan-style lettering has a monumental quality that suits stone perfectly. All capitals, with elegant proportions and fine detail.
ALWAYS LOVED, NEVER FORGOTTEN
Garamond / Old Style Serif
A refined, humanist serif with a warmth that Times New Roman lacks. Garamond is an excellent choice for longer inscriptions and poetry, as it remains highly readable at smaller sizes.
Those we love don't go away
Script / Italic
A flowing, cursive style that adds a personal, handwritten quality to an inscription. Script lettering is particularly effective for short phrases and names, and conveys warmth and intimacy.
Those we love don't go away
Sans-Serif / Modern
Clean, contemporary lettering without serifs. A modern choice that works well on contemporary memorial designs and polished granite. Clear and legible at all sizes.
A life well lived
Lettering Finishes
Colour & Finish Options
Lead Infill
The most traditional finish for cut lettering. Molten lead is poured into the carved inscription and polished flush with the stone surface, producing a soft silver-grey colour. Lead infill is extremely durable and has been used on memorials for centuries.
Forever in our hearts
Gold / Gilded
Gold lettering is achieved either by applying gold leaf to the carved inscription or by using gold paint. It produces a warm, luminous effect that is particularly striking on dark stone. Gold leaf is more durable than paint but requires occasional re-gilding over time.
Forever in our hearts
White Paint
White painted lettering is clean, clear, and highly legible. It is a popular choice for darker stones and provides excellent contrast. White paint will require re-painting over time as it weathers.
Forever in our hearts
Lead Infill
Black painted lettering is the standard choice for lighter stones — white marble, light grey granite, and natural stone. It provides strong contrast and a classic, formal appearance.
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Cut Stone (Unpainted)
Leaving the carved inscription unpainted allows the natural contrast between the cut surface and the polished or natural stone to define the lettering. This is a subtle, understated finish that suits natural stone and slate particularly well.
Forever in our hearts
Practical Guidance
Tips for Choosing Your Inscription
Read it aloud
Before finalising your inscription, read it aloud several times. Consider how it will feel to read it at the graveside in ten or twenty years' time.
Keep it timeless
Avoid references to current events, slang, or anything that may feel dated in the future. A memorial is permanent — the words should feel as right in fifty years as they do today.
Check the spelling carefully
Once an inscription is cut in stone, it cannot be changed without significant cost. Check every word, every date, and every name with extreme care before approving the design proof.
Consider the space available
The size of the stone and the size of the lettering will determine how much text can be included. As a general guide, a standard lawn headstone can accommodate a name, dates, and a verse of four to six lines.
You do not need to decide immediately
There is no rush. The inscription is the most personal part of the memorial and deserves careful thought. Take the time you need.
Read it aloud
We will always show you a proof Before any lettering is cut, we will provide a design proof showing the exact layout, font, and wording of the inscription. Nothing is cut until you are completely happy.