How to Avoid Mistakes When Writing Obituaries in Oklahoma City?
Writing an obituary is hard but necessary. It allows you to pay tribute to a beloved person. Friends also need consolation after the death of a family member, especially in Oklahoma City, where residents hold dear the bond of brotherliness. This article will guide you through common mistakes and offer tips to avoid them, ensuring obituaries in Oklahoma City are respectful and accurate tributes.
You should avoid the following mistakes: failing to double-check facts, skipping proofreading, leaving out important family members, and not mentioning funeral or memorial service information. You must not add a photo, be too formal or stiff, or forget to offer a call to action.
Mistakes Made When Writing Obituaries in Oklahoma City: How to Avoid Them?
The consequences of error in obituary writing can be detrimental. They will probably end up misrepresenting the life of the deceased, which will instead cause emotional pain to the relatives and friends and besmirch the good name of the deceased. Inaccuracies also lead to corrections and rewrites, not to mention potential legal action. So, you should avoid these mistakes when writing an obituary in Oklahoma.
Failing to Double-Check Facts
One of the most common mistakes in writing an obituary is failing to check dates, names, and other significant life events that are important in executing the obituary. Mistaken facts involving family members or anything close to major milestones may confuse or hurt.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
Before you begin writing, gather all the information you need. You need to cross-check the dates of birth, death, marriage, etc., with multiple family members or original documents. You must also cross-check family names and ensure that siblings, spouses, children, etc., are mentioned correctly. Double-checking ensures accuracy and limits errors that will cause undue grief.
Skipping Proofreading
Not proofreading the obituary notices in Oklahoma City may result in embarrassing typos, grammatical errors, or awkward sentence structure. These will diminish the piece’s dignity and confuse.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
Proofread the obituary several times and ask someone else to review it. Reading it aloud will help you catch errors or awkward phrases. A polished obituary will express respect and care in paying homage to the deceased.
Leaving Out Important Family Members
Another critical mistake is to omit essential relations, whether alive or dead. This causes hurt feelings and undue family tension.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
Before writing an obituary in Oklahoma City, list every living and deceased immediate family member who should appear in an obituary. To be thorough, it is necessary to consult all family members who can help ensure no important individual is omitted. Always be certain you accurately list relationships such as spouses, children, siblings, and grandchildren.
Not Mentioning Funeral or Memorial Service Information
Sometimes, people err by failing to provide funeral or memorial service information so that readers do not know how to participate or pay their respects.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
Add the date, time, and location of the funeral or memorial service in the local obituary notice in Oklahoma City. If private, clarify but note where condolences may be sent or donations made. Families often tend to identify within a local church or community center in Oklahoma City, so incorporate those details if they are relevant.
Neglecting to Add a Photo
A photographic obituary sometimes fails to convey that personal feel. At times, the right photo strikes a chord and effectively links people to the memory of the deceased.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
Choose a photo that best captures the deceased’s personality, such as a recent portrait or a candid shot that catches their spirit. Check the photography submission guidelines for the local obituary in Oklahoma City to ensure your chosen picture meets the minimum size and quality requirements. A good photo adds warmth and personality to the obituary.
Being Too Formal or Stiff
Obits themselves should be dignified, but writing in a tone that is too formal or stiff will end up making the tribute cold and unrepresentative of the true character of the deceased.
How to Avoid This Mistake?
Balance formality with warmth. Suppose the person had a good sense of humor, some hobbies, or a favorite pastime. Mentioning some experience the person had in Oklahoma City-specific, like going to Thunder games or small community events, could also capture a special person’s connection to Oklahoma City.
Forgetting to Offer a Call to Action in the Obituary in Oklahoma City
Unless you include a call to action, readers may be left uncertain about how to express their condolences and honor the deceased.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
At the end of the obituary, suggest actions that might be taken to honor their memory, for example, donating to a specified charity, attending the funeral, or offering condolences. If the family has established an online memorial page or guestbook, provide the link so people can go there to leave messages or memories.
How do you write about a deceased person?
When writing about a dead person, especially a famous one, remember the great achievements and qualities that characterized them. Keep the tone of the obituaries in Oklahoma City respectful, avoid sensationalism, and include all necessary details that will not be known now: dates, places, and relationships.
What is a good sentence for the deceased?
Dearly departed, whose hearts etched an indelible mark on our lives, died on [date] at the age of [age]. They will be very much missed, and their legacy lives on as a guiding light for us and our families.
Are obituaries required in Oklahoma?
Obituaries are published in local newspapers and online-based sources, where they are updated so that the public can learn about a person’s death and other funeral services and arrangements.
Conclusion
Writing an obituary is one of the fundamental ways through which the memory of a loved one will be served. Therefore, you should not make mistakes on Oklahoma obits. Avoid the following mistakes: failing to check the facts, skipping proofreading, failing to include close relatives, and omitting information about the services to be held during the funeral or memorial. Also, avoid including a picture, being too formal or stiff, and forgetting to tell readers to do something.
