How 'thoughts and prayers' became the stock phrase of tragedies

A linguistic history

The White House holds a moment of silence on the South Lawn for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting.
(Image credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and wounded," Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) said about Sunday night's mass shooting in Las Vegas. "All of those affected are in our thoughts and prayers," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. "Thoughts & prayers for #LasVegas victims and their family members," Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) chimed in.

Thoughts and prayers. It's the stock phrase of tragedies, like "condolences" for a death, "congratulations" for a wedding, and either one (depending) for a divorce.

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James Harbeck

James Harbeck is a professional word taster and sentence sommelier (an editor trained in linguistics). He is the author of the blog Sesquiotica and the book Songs of Love and Grammar.