A set of genuine notes were selected from completed suicides by men & women who left at least one note, who were white, & who were older than 18. A comparison group of simulated note writers were unpreselected, unpaid community volunteers. Genuine note writers in this sample & in a Shneidman & Farberow (1957) sample were not found to differ. Simulated note writers from the samples did differ. Problems with the interpretation of differences between genuine & simulated notes are discussed.