Most single monument and headstone wording has five parts: a short opening line (such as "In Loving Memory of"), your loved one's full name, their dates of birth and passing, their family relationships, and a short closing epitaph or cultural tribute. Once you've chosen the wording, the most important step is checking every name, date, character, layout detail and measurement on your written design proof before production starts. At John Stonemart Memorials, factory production only begins after you sign the proof, and lettering cut into natural granite or marble is permanent.
Whether you're planning the inscription for a single monument in Melbourne or Sydney, or reviewing a proof remotely for a cemetery anywhere in Australia, this guide explains how to set out the wording on the stone and gives you a step-by-step checklist to work through before you approve engraving. If you're still comparing quotes or choosing a monument style, start with our headstone and monument cost guide and our guide on how to choose the right monument for a loved one.
What to write on a single monument or headstone
You don't need to fill every centimetre of the headstone. Clear, well-spaced wording is easier to read from the path, and it leaves room for borders, religious emblems, ceramic photos or a second inscription later. Most families build a single monument inscription around five parts:
| Inscription part | What to include on your single monument or headstone | Tips for layout and readability |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Opening line (heading) | A short phrase near the top of the headstone, such as "In Loving Memory of", "Treasured Memories of", "Forever in Our Hearts", or a religious or cultural greeting | Keep it to 3–5 words so your loved one's name stays the focus |
| 2. Full name | First, middle and family names, plus any nickname, title or maiden name ("née") people knew them by | Engraved larger than the lines around it. Check every letter against official documents |
| 3. Dates of birth and passing (or age) | Full dates (for example, 14 March 1945 – 22 August 2026), or the date of passing and age | Pick one date format and use it everywhere on the monument |
| 4. Family relationships | The roles they held in the family, such as "Beloved wife of…", "Devoted mother of…" or "Adored grandmother of…" | Decide early whether to list each name or keep the wording general, so future grandchildren aren't left out by accident |
| 5. Closing epitaph, verse or base surname | A short personal tribute, prayer or scripture of one or two lines at the bottom of the headstone, plus the family surname (often in large letters across the monument base) | Short lines look more balanced and keep clear space above the base and vase holes |
Common opening lines and epitaphs families choose include "In Loving Memory", "Forever in Our Hearts", "Always Loved, Never Forgotten", "Rest in Peace", "Until We Meet Again" and "Gone But Not Forgotten".
Shorter is usually better: on stone, a few words often say more than a long verse.
How the inscription fits on a full single monument (including double-depth plots)
A full single monument is more than a lawn plaque. It has an upright headstone, a stone base, kerbing along the length of the grave, and a ledger slab or pebble infill. That gives you a few layout choices to think about:
Headstone or base: most families put the personal inscription (opening line, full name, dates, relationships and epitaph) on the upright headstone, and the family surname in bold capitals across the front of the granite base or front kerb.
Leaving room on a double-depth grave: in many Melbourne and Sydney cemeteries, a single plot is dug to double depth so two family members can be buried one above the other under the same single monument. If your plot is double depth, tell your consultant before the design proof is drawn. The first inscription can then sit higher on the stone, or on one half of a twin-panel headstone, leaving balanced space for the second inscription later.
Lettering finishes on granite and marble: depending on the stone colour and the cemetery's rules, lettering can be 23-carat real gold leaf, silver, white, bronze or traditional unpainted carving. The lettering method and the number of lines affect the price, so see our headstone and monument cost guide for how inscription work is quoted.
Choosing bilingual wording and approving your inscription proof
Many families use two languages on a single monument, pairing English details with a family surname, ancestral village, prayer or tribute in another script. When you're choosing bilingual headstone wording and approving the proof:
Have a fluent reader check every character. Don't rely on translation software for words that will be cut into stone. Ask a fluent reader in your family to check every character, stroke, tone mark, accent and formal kinship title on the design proof before anything is engraved.
Check traditional or religious calendar dates. If the inscription pairs a Gregorian date with a lunar, Hebrew or Islamic date, check each conversion separately.
Check how the two scripts sit together. Look at where each language sits on the drawing (one above the other, in side-by-side columns, or across the top arch), and make sure both are clearly sized next to any ceramic photo or carved religious symbol.
Single monument design-proof checklist: what to check before you sign
Before any stone is cut or lettered at our overseas quarries and factories, we prepare a written design proof showing your exact inscription, layout and measurements. Print it or open it on a large screen, ask another family member to check it separately, and go through these six items before you sign:
| Proof checklist item | What to check on the drawing and specification sheet | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Names and personal details | Exact spelling of first, middle and family names; hyphens, apostrophes, accents, titles and maiden names ("née") | Compare letter by letter with a birth certificate, passport or marriage certificate |
| 2. Dates and numbers | Day, month and four-digit year of birth and passing; any age shown; consistent date punctuation (14 March 1945 or 14.03.1945) | Have two family members read each digit aloud separately, so swapped digits (1948 and 1984) are caught early |
| 3. Exact wording | Opening phrase, family relationships, epitaph, base surname, capital letters and punctuation | Read the whole inscription aloud from top to bottom to make sure no small words ("of", "and") are missing |
| 4. Bilingual and non-English script | Character accuracy, accents, stroke order, traditional calendar dates, reading direction, and spacing next to the English text | Have a fluent family reader check every character before you sign |
| 5. Layout, photos and symbols | Centring, line breaks, letter sizes, ceramic photo frame, laser-etched portrait, cross or emblem position, vase holes, and blank space kept for a future burial | Check that no phrase breaks awkwardly across two lines, and that frames or statues don't crowd the lettering |
| 6. Measurements and order details | Cemetery name, section and grave number; overall height, width and length of the headstone, base, kerbing and ledger slab; granite or marble colour and finish; lettering finish | Check against your right of interment (burial licence) papers, your written order and the cemetery's rules |
Sending corrections and checking the revised proof
The design proof is there so wording and layout can be changed on paper before anything is made. If you spot a mistake or want to change something:
Don't sign a proof "subject to changes". Wait for a revised proof that shows the corrected wording or layout.
Send one list of corrections in writing. Ask everyone in the family to look at the proof first, then send a single combined list by email (or mark it clearly on the proof in the showroom), so different versions don't get mixed up.
Check the whole revised proof, not just the corrected line. Changing one line can shift the spacing elsewhere on the headstone or base.
Sign off. When everything is right, the person authorised on the order signs and dates the final proof, and factory production can start.
Questions to ask before you sign your single monument proof
Before you sign and return the proof, in person or by email, ask your consultant:
Does this drawing show the exact spelling, punctuation, capital letters and line breaks that will be engraved on our single monument?
Do the measurements of the headstone, base, kerbing and ledger on this proof match our written order and our cemetery section's rules?
If this single monument is for a double-depth plot, is there enough clear room on the headstone for a second inscription later?
If we're approving it remotely, how do we send back the signed proof, who lodges the cemetery permit application, and how will we receive completion photos once the monument is installed?
What happens if the cemetery asks for a change to the size or design during the permit review, and how long will it take from the signed proof?
Frequently asked questions
What is usually included in single monument and headstone wording in Australia?
Most single monument and headstone inscriptions have five parts: a short opening line (such as “In Loving Memory of”), the person's full name, their dates of birth and passing, their family relationships (such as husband, wife, parent or grandparent), and a short closing epitaph or cultural phrase. The family surname often goes across the monument base.
What should I check when choosing bilingual headstone wording and approving an inscription proof?
Have a fluent reader in your family check every non-English character, accent and kinship title, make sure any traditional or lunar calendar dates match the English dates, and check the position, size and lettering finish of both languages on the written design proof before you sign.
How is bilingual single-monument inscription wording approved before engraving starts?
Your monumental mason prepares a written design proof showing the proposed wording, characters and layout on the stone. At John Stonemart Memorials, production doesn't start until your family has checked the proof, sent any corrections in writing, and signed the final version.
What should I confirm before ordering a single monument remotely for an Australian cemetery?
Confirm the exact cemetery, section and grave number in writing, check who holds the right of interment and who lodges the cemetery permit application, and confirm how you'll review and sign the digital design proof by email and receive completion photos once the monument is installed. For quote and price checks before you pay a deposit, see our single monument quote checklist.
How long does a single monument take after I sign the design proof?
Installation usually takes 3 to 4 months from the date you sign the design proof, depending on holiday periods. Our standard contract allows up to 6 months to cover any unforeseen inconveniences or cemetery processing times, so we don't promise a fixed completion date.
What should you not put on a headstone?
Avoid anything you can't check or change later: unverified translations, misspelt names, uncertain dates, or wording other family members haven't agreed to. Many cemeteries ask for the inscription as part of the permit application, so keep the wording respectful and check any limits with the cemetery before you sign the design proof.
Need help with single monument wording or a design proof?
If you have a question about an inscription proof, or you'd like to arrange a single monument in Melbourne or Sydney, call John Stonemart Memorials on 0417 670 613, email [email protected], or get in touch through our contact page.