Top 10 Most common mistakes
I would like to get a list/report of the top 10 most common mistakes so I could use it as a training tool for my indexers in the stake. If I (we) could minimize those mistakes, then we could become better and move the work along.
Does anyone know of any such report? I don't want names, just the most common mistakes. Other than reading the instructions, too broad, specific areas would be helpful.
Best Answer
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It would be nice to see an official report on the top 10 indexing errors! Someone at headquarters should be able to answer this question.
Only from experience, I offer:
The incorrect indexing of the maiden name when no evidence is provided that it is a maiden name.
Surnames are assumed from others on the document when they shouldn't be (read the field helps for every project!)
Gender is determined by a given name.
Birth and death dates are calculated based on other information in the record.
Fields are marked unreadable because an indexer can't read the handwriting. (Use the wildcards) Indexers could be instructed on how to use the handwriting helps, and to look at other words on a document to see if they can figure out the word. Perhaps even use a search to see if they can figure out a place name - although they also need to know not to use outside sources for anything but verification. "Type What You See, Don't Type What You Don't See"
Commas are not used between levels of locality.
Duplicates are exact photographic images of a previous image in a batch - not just the same information about an individual.
Overlays are difficult for people to index, (although it is getting better with enhanced instructions).
Indexers do not understand how or when to index records that span two images - or even two batches! They need to know how to use Reference Images.
And...the number one most answered question in Indexing Chat: Why won't my batch submit? Some projects have a pre-set number of entries. After you have entered all the information on your image, Click on the Trash Can Icon, Select "all blank entries", Click Delete.
That's my 10!
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Answers
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Learning how to delete extra default entries is one of the biggest issues I have seen. Marking them all blank is not the answer.
I have never heard of any report. Might try googling it and see if there is a blog that addresses them.
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I was just going to say the same thing. Deleting extra entries is the question that I get asked the most.
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One of the biggest mistakes I see when reviewing is assuming information, such as assuming a gender from a name, assuming a surname from someone else in the record, or assuming the country from a city or state.
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A good one is forgetting to check the recent deaths in the family(or section 6 in liberia 2008 census), fortunately, the recent deaths are normally empty.
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also, just because the place of birth for a person is a number not listed as an option, doesn't mean that there is a mistake, just put down what you see and press enter.
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anyone who is unconfident in there cursive abilities should not get discouraged from indexing, normally batches in the beginners difficulty have records filled in in print(non-cursive/readable), but not a lot of batches are for beginners, so i looked and i found that "Sierra Leone—Birth and Death Registrations, 1858–2016" is also in print (most of the time) and is not in high demand.
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A good one- Nobody knows(not even me) what the letters in cursive mean when they're just a cursive s three times and you are sure that there should be a vowel in there.
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I feel the best thing a person can do it to explore all of the Icons in the Taskbar. I indexed for a long time before I had training for the meaning of the Icons. Click on each one and see what it does. Some of them have two ways to help such as two ways to read the Project Instructions or two ways to submit a batch. Did you know you can change the color of the ruler? Or just enlarging or using the highlight can help you read the handwriting. It has made Indexing a lot easier and faster now that I know the shortcuts.
Also under Indexing Help Menus has numerous articles for the different aspects of Indexing. (Found in Help next to Data Entry- above the Toolbar.) Good luck with your class.
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The FamilySearch research wiki has many pages about common mistakes transcribing cursive handwriting. Taken as a whole, that probably is a 10 ten mistake. The topic can be presented in table form, cribbed from the wiki.
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One of the top all time Common mistakes indexers make is Not Reading the Project Instructions and the Field help. These are crucial to every batch not just projects but batches. Make sure you understand the instructions. If not, you can reach out to one of us (using your batch code so we can ensure we have the right instructions) or to your Indexing specialist in your area. Also a good place to go for extra help is the Help Center for Indexing - just type in a keyword and there should be an answer. There are also General Indexing Guidelines. If the project instructions don't have any help there - check the General Indexing Guidelines near the end of the Project instructions. Lots of words and instructions but they do help.
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All of these are very helpful. So how many of you have shared this with your ward or stake indexing person, if you are not that person?
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