May I please add my "amen." (Although I have never deliberately
included misinformation in a query.)
As a USGenWebProject coordinator (5 counties,) I continually
encourage submitters to make their queries short and to the point.
Many do, but I'm constantly faced with the problem of having to
"edit down" long and drawn-out queries that are frequently confusing,
and chew up valuable server space. (I have to figure out how to index
them.) I truly don't like to touch anyone's query, but sometimes I must.
Just omitting unnecessary phrases like, "my great-great-grandmother,"
will help. Once a connection is made, there will be plenty of time to
explain your relationship to the ancestor.
Additionally, it is not necessary, nor is it desirable, to include the entire line,
including parents who lived and died in another state/county, on which
ship they arrived, who the children married after they moved away,
occupations, causes of death, and the fact that you have been researching
these surnames for ten years. (Who hasn't? <G>)
A simple "Thank you" is appropriate, but not, "I really hope someone can
help me, because I'm desperate to find Kris CARR's marriage date, and I
will be happy to help anyone who connects to my line. I have lots of
information to share."
Basically, all you need is the name, the era, and the county.
EX: John FIELD and wife Ida PLOW, known to be in Adams
Co, MS ca 1852-1880. Happy to share.
Placing the surname in caps is a big help, as is using proper grammar in
sentences. "i am looking for joe brown and elizabeth smith in harris co tx
about 1880" is much more difficult to read than, "I am looking for Joe
BROWN and Hal SMITH in Harris Co, TX about 1880." And of course,
never type an entire query in all caps.
A suggestion would be to spend a few minutes, offline, composing neat,
clear, & compact queries. Keep the queries near your computer, and
copy them verbatum whenever you wish to post them online.
There is no "perfect" query, and there are exceptions to every rule.
But by and large, the more concise the query, the better the results.
Happy hunting!
Ellen
Adams, Bolivar, Madison Co, MSGenWebProject
Concordia Parish, LAGenWebProject
Hampden Co, MAGenWebProject