entering a birth year
The FamilySearch instructor told the class never enter the word "about". Example: about 1870.
The class was told just put 1870 because the Family Search system (computer program) would search 6 years before and after 1870.
If we entered just 1870 the system would search better in finding possible duplicates.
Is this true? I can't find a Knowledge Article to support what she is teaching
I find Knowledge Articles that instruct us to enter "about" when we don't know the exact date.
Comments
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She is slightly right and absolutely wrong. It depends on your audience.
If your only audience is the computer, it doesn't matter what you enter. You will get the same six years plus or minus, if that is what happens, whether you put in 1870 or about 1870. The computer really doesn't care.
If your audience is other users of family tree, your relatives and other researchers, entering 1870 means you know he was born in 1870 with pretty good certainty and have good sources to think so. Entering about 1870 tells those people you are not sure when he was born but it was around 1870, plus or minus several years.
It is very important to communicate clearly and enter exactly what you mean in a way others will know what you mean. Feel free to use about when appropriate.
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Thank you. I like your suggestion.
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