Keep the letter as brief and as short as possible. Here are some suggestions for expressing sympathy clearly and supportively to the bereaved.Email is fine, but avoid texting. Be sincere and express your feelings of sympathy. A condolence message is a respectful way of communicating sympathy for someone suffering a loss. Here's how to express condolences in a professional manner. How do you write a short condolence message? Writing a condolence message is an emotional task. Here's tips and examples of how to sign a sympathy card for coworkers, friends, and more. Acknowledge the loss and name the deceased.