And when you’re addressing a subject like death, euphemisms can be an essential communication tool. The original users of the phrase believed that a person’s soul literally passed from this life to the next, rather than “dying.” If this is what you believe, too, you might convey that idea by using “passed away” rather than “died.” Euphemisms can help us communicateĮuphemisms develop over time to help people address fears, grief, and difficult topics more comfortably. Īs mentioned, the origin of the phrase “passed away” is a religious one. This could also be the case when you’re putting together an obituary or announcing a death. In situations like this, you might err on the side of caution and lean on phrasing like “passed away” instead. If you’re speaking to a group of people, it’s hard to know who might be offended by words like “die” or “dead” in certain contexts. When you’re talking about death with someone you care about, you might use phrases like “passed away” if you notice they’re uncomfortable with words like “died.” If using softer phrasing like “passed away” makes it easier for you to broach the subject, there’s often no harm in doing so.ĭirect phrasing makes the other person uncomfortable.Ĭonversations are a give-and-take, and you usually want the other person to be comfortable, too. That’s understandable, and it shouldn’t prevent you from talking about the topic altogether.
![past vs passed past vs passed](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgXnBnOzERw/TmOYgb4wu8I/AAAAAAAAAYI/ctpKNTdWugY/s1600/passed+past.jpg)
Not everyone is comfortable talking about what death is like directly, whether it’s the death of a loved one or their own mortality.
![past vs passed past vs passed](https://squline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FI_SLE_June_Week1.jpg)
There are multiple reasons why you might use a term like “pass away” rather than “died.” Here are a few of the most common: » MORE: Meaningful sympathy gifts that aren't flowers