# R.I.P.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p/10733>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 20, 2000, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p/10733 "2000-04-20T11:35:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p/10733/1 "2000-04-20T11:35:00Z")

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Was R.I.P. ever really used commonly on grave stones? Or is it more a manufactured thing by comic books, cartoons, etc., to say, “Hey, you’re looking at a grave stone”?

I can’t say I’ve ever seen it anywhere, even in some old cemeteries.

And if the above answer is “yes,” how did an abbreviation for “Rest in Peace,” gain such widespread acceptance? Why not N.W.G. (Now With God) or S.L.S. (So Long, Sucker)?

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Give me immortality, or give me death!

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**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p/10733/2 "2000-04-20T13:03:00Z")

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RIP really stands for “resquiet in pascem” (or something like that; Latin speakers please correct my spelling). It translates to Rest in Peace.

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**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p/10733/3 "2000-04-20T14:30:00Z")

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I’ve seen R.I.P. in old New England cemeteries - on grave stones so ugly you wouldn’t dream of using them for cats you hated. It just was fashionable at one time.

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Never land alone. J. Winters

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p/10733/4 "2000-04-20T14:37:00Z")

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_Requiescat In Pace_

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2000, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p/10733/5 "2000-04-20T15:25:00Z")

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“For the love of God, Montressor!”