Choose the one-word substitute that best completes the sentence: "Words inscribed on the tomb are called _____."

Introduction / Context:
This one-word substitute question distinguishes between several similar looking literary terms related to writing and inscriptions. The phrase "words inscribed on the tomb" refers to short text carved or engraved on a grave or tombstone. You must identify the correct technical term used in English for such writing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Phrase: "Words inscribed on the tomb". - Options: "Epigraph", "Epigram", "Epitaph", "Elegy". - The context is a burial place and the writing found on a tombstone. - Only one term specifically refers to writing on a grave.

Concept / Approach:
"Epitaph" is the correct term for an inscription on a tomb or gravestone in memory of the person buried there. An epitaph can be a brief statement of praise, a short poem, or simple information about the deceased. The other words, though similar in spelling, have different meanings related to literature and poetry and do not specifically refer to tomb inscriptions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that tombstones often have short texts like "Beloved father" or "Gone but not forgotten". These are examples of epitaphs. Step 2: Match this with option C, "Epitaph", which dictionaries define as "a phrase or form of words written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone". Step 3: Examine "Epigraph". This usually means a short quotation or motto at the beginning of a book or chapter, not on a grave. Step 4: Examine "Epigram". This refers to a short, clever, and often witty poem or saying, usually not connected to tombs. Step 5: Examine "Elegy". An elegy is a mournful poem, often written to lament the dead, but it is not the carved inscription on the tomb itself. Step 6: Conclude that only "Epitaph" directly matches the phrase "words inscribed on the tomb".

Verification / Alternative check:
Use each option in an example sentence. "The epitaph on his gravestone read, 'A loving friend to all'" makes perfect sense. "The epigraph on his gravestone" or "the epigram on his gravestone" sound unusual or wrong; while a witty epigram could theoretically be used as an epitaph, the technical term for tomb writing remains "epitaph". An "elegy" is usually recited or written, not carved, so saying "the elegy on his gravestone" is also inaccurate.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Epigraph" belongs mainly to books and literary works. "Epigram" focuses on clever, concise expressions and is not tied to graves or tombs. "Elegy" refers to a type of poem expressing sorrow, usually more extended than the short lines carved on a tombstone. None of these options accurately represents the specific concept of tomb inscriptions.

Common Pitfalls:
Because "epi" and "graph" both relate to writing, learners often confuse epigraph, epigram, and epitaph. A helpful memory trick is to link "taph" with "tomb": both start with the letter t sound. In contrast, "graph" suggests writing more generally, and "gram" suggests something written or drawn but not specifically on a grave. Building such associations will help you answer many similar vocabulary questions quickly and confidently.

Final Answer:
Epitaph is the correct one-word substitute for "words inscribed on the tomb".