It's not "passed" or "passed away", it's "died"

[SherlockHolmes]

So sick of this euphemism being used everywhere. It's not factual - no one has passed anywhere, they're dead.

I get it if it's someone close to you and you can't bring yourself to actually mention death, but it's being used in news reports etc. Utterly ridiculous.

Immensely true
Completely concur with you sincere soul
Thank you for your compassionate kindness & empathetic enlightenments of sensitive honesty
God Bless You&Yours
💚🌼💚

Actually that is true about lost it does have more than one meaning

one of which is

that has been taken away or cannot be recovered

which is appropriate for death tbh particularly if the circumstances were such it seems as if they have been taken away from you such as in an accident etc

And it's not "past away"

Totally agree

People can use whatever term they like if it eases their pain, and passed away has been in use for as long as I remember - you see it on very old grave stones.

But I do think that newspapers and news programmes should stop saying 'passed' in serious articles. It's crept in from the US over the past few years.

I heard on the radio about the 'passing' of Ozzy Osbourne - it should have said the death of OO!

I said died because I tell people someone has died. And I need to be very clear or they may not understand.

I can’t imagine caring what people say outside of that. You don’t really mean you weee confused in normal conversation when someone said ‘passed away’ do you? Surely not.

Bereaved people are free to use whatever expression they wish.

I say died, but I don’t try to tell people who prefer ‘passed away’ that they’re ‘inflicting’ it on me. That’s strange, I usually say I’m sorry for their loss rather than decide how they’re impacting me with their preferred choice of words. Perhaps you could ask recently bereaved people to give you a trigger warning before they speak.

You blame America for people being sensitive to the grieving????
You sound ridiculous.

I’m so sorry for your loss. 😥💐

I sure do. It is an Americanisation of our language. One of many words and phrases that are now used regularly in England that weren’t several years ago.

As pp said - death is not something to avoid or hide, something to be ashamed of. And as I said previously I found it upsetting when my loved one was killed in a car crash and people phrase this as passing. No. And as he was an atheist he didn’t pass anywhere. He died.

Thank you. We are just glad he's at peace and he was at home with his family.

My dad died yesterday morning and tbh I couldn’t care less how people describe it. Why does it matter? It’s sad and rubbish when someone much loved dies, so we need to worry about the semantics now as well?

Sorry for your loss @piscofrisco 💐

Americanisation? “Passed away” has been used in written English since the 15th century, possibly longer in common parlance.

I’m old it has certainly been in use in the UK all my life.

@Superhansrantowindsor - you have every right to use the terminology you prefer, and those around you should have enough empathy to use your choice of words. But the same does apply in the other direction - if someone finds the term 'died' too painful to use or hear, then surely people round them should use the term the bereaved person finds least painful?

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule about which words and phrases are acceptable, and which aren't - it depends on the individual, and it's the bereaved person's feelings that matter more to me than my preference for a particular word or phrase to describe the death of their loved one.

That was insensitive of them, you'd have thought they'd want to follow his wishes. Sorry for the loss of your DH.

Yes Me Too
I'm So Sorry To Hear Of Your Loss
Your Father's Your Phenomenal Guardian Angel Now
By Your Side, Forevermore
Life Without End Amen
💚✨💚

Yes completely concur with you 💚🌼

Thank you for your input, I am glad you have never had the misfortune of dealing with me and my unprofessional, insulting, patronising and infantile language.

I find your response to my comment to be all of the above and have no problems letting you know. Have a nice day!

YABVU there is no right or wrong language. I think it is bad taste to be pedantic about this when someone is grieving.
And in terms of what they use in the press about someone you are not related to... does it really matter?

Agree. Died is what has happened. I hate passed and passed on? To where?
It’s like in Dinnerladies ‘she’s not died she’s just in the next room’, ‘where is she in the wardrobe’ or something like that. 😂

Let people describe death how they see fit. Passed away for some is a gentler term, they feel more comfortable with. What difference does it make?

Yes, Completely Concur With You Wholeheartedly Sincere Soul
💚👍💚