How To – make a correction on index page

What to do when you see an error on the index page of an Ancestry dot com record.

I was working on the Linda Schrock Family tree and noticed that the mother’s name is spelled wrong on an index page (the transcript page Ancestry dot com shows to the user). Her name is “Nora Lawler” and can be verified by many other records.

 

The Mother’s name is listed as Rora Lauler.

 

 

When you click on the name you are brought to her index page.

 

 

To make a correction on the name; you first want to check the actual record.

Click on View.

Questions to ask when viewing the original page. Is it spelled wrong on the record and that is why the index is wrong? Or did they transcribe the index wrong because they could not clearly see the spelling of the name?

 

a closer look at the name shows…

 

You can see on this original that her first name “Nora” is spelled correctly but smudged. You can also see that her maiden name is spelled incorrectly as “Lauler” instead of the proper spelling of “Lawler”.

Go back to index page.

To fix the error you want to click on:   “Add alternate information”

 

 

There will be a number of panels you will have to choose from.

Name, Gender, Race, Birth place,…

 

Name

 

 

Choose the reason you are requesting a fix.

 

 

You choose transcription error even though her last name is spelled wrong on the original page. Since we are changing both her first name and sur name we only choose one reason.

You will be changing both names.

Type in the correct spelling.

Type in the correct spelling.

 

Type up an explanation for the change. Try to give a full description of why you think the information is wrong and needs to be fixed. Saying “because it is wrong” does not give the support people sufficient information and it also does not help the next person who views the index page. Many Index pages have changes on them with “Transcription error” as reason and it leaves you thinking, “Do I trust the new name?” “Where did they get the information?” “Do they have a source for the change?”

 

 

You will be then be asked if you want any of the other people’s names changed. In this case no other person will have her last name of “Lawler” so you do not check any of the boxes and simply click Apply

 

 

You will then be shown your changes and your explanation.

 

 

The correction will be made by the Ancestry dot com support people and you will be notified by e-mail of the fix.  This may take some time, but eventually it will happen.

The final screen print below shows you what your change will look like once the Ancestry dot com people have looked over your change request, and fixed the error.

Reminder: “When you are making a correction request, be sure to give a full explanation, instead of just saying transcription error.”

 

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I hope this post has helped you understand how to make a correction request on Ancestry dot com records. If you have a question, please write it in the comment section and I will answer it ASAP.

 

Thank You

Jose from Clarkston, Michigan