how can I search for weak record hints?
how can I search for weak record hints?
Answers
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If (as frequently) I want hints that aren't available via Research Helps, I just do a Search Records from the profile Details tab, specifying FamilySearch, and look at the results, removing items from the search criteria as necessary, until I get a sensible list (or give up). (Also, ensure that Alternate Names has appropriate content (e.g. married name where the profile has maiden name).)
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Weaker hints will appear in Research Helps if you have enabled that option in Account, Settings, Family Tree Preferences.
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@Black Jed, just a general comment here, be extra careful of the "Expand Record Hints" setting, especially for less experience users. My experience is that those hints are incorrect often but close enough to cause confusion.
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Yes, the instructions do say for "experienced researchers only." I only pointed to how to find them.
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I would strongly agree with comments made above. The term "weak hints" can often speak for itself, in that they are often likely not to have any connection whatsoever to the individual(s) you are researching. The Family Tree algorithm for producing hints against an individual's profile does seem to have improved over the years. A good thing, because many users take the fact that a hint is placed there as meaning it literally does apply to that individual and confidently attach it as a source. Of course, this is often far from the case - "weak" or "strong" - hints often reference a person of very similar identity, but just not "your individual". As suggested, try to find these records by yourself: by using the FamilySearch search engine, or even other websites. You can then take time in assessing whether they really do relate to your persons of interest, rather than someone else's - who superficially might appear to be an "exact match".
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