

When an actor, crew member, or athlete dies, television productions that have direct ties to the deceased often append a memorial to the beginning of their next broadcast. However, printed material is not the only place where you will likely encounter “in loving memory.” You have probably seen it in these other places, too. Those that produce other keepsakes, such as bookmarks, also use the phrase on those pieces. Specifically, you will often use this phrase as a header introducing the memorial.Īs mentioned above, funeral homes often use “In Loving Memory” at the top of programs and other literature. You may use “in loving memory” in any formal or informal written memorial. Even if you recall many details about the individual, it is not correct to say “in loving memories.” The memorial’s objective is to remember the person, not individual facts. Since “memory” in this usage acts as a mass (collective or uncountable) noun that refers to the entire legacy of the deceased, it is correct to use the singular form. In addition, the literature might include details about the person’s life. It is common in literature, such as funeral programs, memorial cards, and obituaries.ĭesigners of funeral literature frequently use “In Loving Memory” as a heading, followed by a photograph of the deceased person captioned by his or her name and dates of birth and death. With that many funerals, you will likely encounter “in loving memory” at some point each year. That’s over 2 million funerals ( source)! The average funeral home conducted 113 funerals during the year. When writing this phrase, always use the singular “memory” and not the plural “memories.”Īccording to the National Funeral Directors Association, there were over 18,000 active funeral homes in the United States as of 2021. You may use “in loving memory” on written memorials of all kinds, either formal or informal. You may encounter it on headstones or other formal memorials from time to time, but most memorials today use the English phrase “in loving memory.” How Do You Use “In Loving Memory”?


The phrase “in memory” is the English equivalent of the Latin “in memoriam.” English borrowed this phrase from Latin in the mid-nineteenth century ( source). In present-day English, speakers and writers use “in loving memory” more frequently than “in memory” for this reason. In the phrase “in loving memory,” “memory” represents the remembrance of a deceased person that signifies a favorable sentiment toward the deceased and a desire to preserve the person’s legacy ( source).īecause of the strong sentimental weight of such a memorial, the word “loving” almost always appears in the phrase. Music files filled up the computer’s memory.“Memory” can also mean a store of data, knowledge, or facts: Its most straightforward meaning is an act of recollection: “Memory” has several standard definitions in English. “In loving memory” indicates that an object, writing, or production bearing it is a tribute to a deceased person. Read on to learn more about the meaning of “in loving memory” and how you may use it. You can also write it in a minor sentence, “Made in loving memory of John Smith.” Funeral preparers frequently use “In loving memory” as a heading on memorial cards, funeral programs, and similar literature. It is correct to say “in loving memory” when you produce a written memorial to a deceased individual. Is it correct to say “in loving memory,” and if so, when and how do you use it? For example, you may have received a photo with this heading at a funeral or seen it carved into the beams of a park bench along with someone’s name. You have probably encountered the phrase “in loving memory” at some point.
