Middle names/initials
Respuestas
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If you click on the little arrow icon in the top right-hand corner of your post, you can bookmark the post; if you click on the same icon at the top of your favorite answer, it should give you (and only you, since you're the person who created the thread) the option to select one as a "best answer." I think it only allows you to select one, but then that answer will show up at the top of the thread, making it easier for you to find again later.
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Ty @Charlotte Noelle Champenois 😊
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We sure appreciate you and all that you do. At FamilySearch we strive to provide accurate records and to respond to the needs of our users. It is wonderful to know that our efforts are appreciated.
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As mentioned by Carolyn Webber, starting with limited information is a great place to start! Then add more and/or different details to your searches.
After having so much fun finding all the alternatives names, record them in Alternet Names section like you mentioned. Way to go!
If you don't get finished searching, it's helpful to leave the name most of the records are found with.
When you're satisfied you've searched all the person's different forms of names, then putting the most correct and full name makes sense.
It's amazingly helpful when others have used the Alternate Names, written a Life Sketch and left notes!
Doing the same for the one's you've spent so much time finding and for names other's may easily confuse with someone else helps you remember and other's not to get mixed up.
When the middle name is an abreviation use the period.
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I see you mentioned Life Sketch @ShellyR Leavitt1 im glad you did cause I’ve been meaning to ask about this. What is it? How is it formatted? How would someone “create” a Life Sketch for an ancestor? I would think it would be a summary of the ancestors life, but that’s laid out in the timeline, and I guess that’s why I’m confused about this particular feature
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Here is the FamilySearch guidance on life sketches: https://ps-services-us-east-1-914248642252.s3.amazonaws.com/s3%2Fhelp-learningcenter-fh1-prod-s3%2F2016%2F09%2F14%2F7804edf6-cc72-406b-bb73-b1a375bd89d6%2FCreate+a+Life+Sketch+in+Family+Tree+Handout.pdf.
Lots of people use the life sketch in all sorts of ways and for all sorts of things. Currently, (as near as I can tell) there is no hard-and-fast policy or standard of which I am aware. So if you create a life sketch, anyone can overwrite it or change it almost however they please. I've written life sketches that essentially are a summary highlight of years of research, only to have the next user come along and overwrite it with a copy/paste of the data from FindAGrave. Because there is no required standard, both my life sketch and the that user's copy/paste job are acceptable, and it all comes down to the latest user's preference.
TL;DR: Though you'll hear all sorts of opinions on how best to do the life sketch, you can do the life sketch pretty much however you like. Official guidance linked above.
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I was taught to leave off most punctuation too. In fact, the article posted by Anne above says we should avoid "special characters, extra spaces, and most punctuation marks. Hyphens and apostrophes are okay if they are a part of the actual name."
So the apostrophe in O'Brien is acceptable, for example, but there's no need for punctuation after the A in John A Ford. It's cleaner, faster, and easier to leave it off. Gordon mentioned an edge case where someone's middle name consists of just one character, but that's pretty rare. So I think following the help article guidelines are the way to go.
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I started using Memories>Stories instead of Life Sketch for typed obits and also for 'stories'. It won't be overwritten and is easy to maintain. I also try to use the 'Other Information' fields, to store tidbits of info like info on twins, military unit, etc. - the Custom Field is a wonderful tool.
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I agree @Tiffany Nash ive started using memories as well😊 and i justdiscovered the power of using “other” the other day 😂 its a wonderful feature! And I FINALLY figured out how to add a source that isn’t indexed jeesh Louise! It was but time consuming but it was an important one so I struggled through it lol
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