Keep the letter as brief and as short as possible. Start with your message of sympathy.​​ This is not a time to write "How are you?" or "I was at the grocery store today and figured I'd pick up a card. The most common way to begin a sympathy card note is to start with the word "Dear. " You could also write "Dearest" or simply start with the person's name. Avoid platitudes like "They're in a better place" or "Everything happens for a reason. If you can't seem to find the words to express your sympathy, we've created a few examples of what to write in a sympathy card.