Family Search - Is there a guide or best practice for searching?

[KitCarson]

Hi,

I would really like to get the best out of FS but whenever I have used it (mainly for UK records) I get far too many results.  I have access to Ancestry and FindMyPast at the moment also. 

It might just be that the record/s I'm looking for are not available/transcribed but I tend to get pages of results which are not what I asked for, even though I feel I'm keeping my query quite specific.

Is there an 'Idiot's' guide or best practice that has been or could be shared?  I'd rather not have to do video/blog etc, but if that appears to be the way forward, I'd give it a go.

thanks in advance and take care, Kit

[louisa maud]

As far as I know there is no idiots guide, most of us started off with limited knowledge and sifted through the results with a few certificates thrown in, it takes time and patience but very rewarding., give it a go or ask  FC  for help if you get stuck

Happy hunting

Louisa Maud

[Pennines]

You could always try making various aspects (or indeed all) of your search 'exact' by ticking the little boxes adjacent to that field (or the one at the foot of the search pane for 'all')-- although you will miss out on variant spellings that way.

[Pennines]

There is an actual course run by a Genealogy Company - course is called 'So You Think You Know Family Search - a Guided Tour' --- but it costs. Next course on this starts on 1st June, and runs for 4 weeks, but I don't think I will be allowed to advertise the company.

If you are interested just send me a personal message.

[KitCarson]

Thanks Louisa Maud and Pennines for your observations.

If anyone else has experiences they can offer or other advice, I'd very much welcome it.

Kit

[Craclyn]

It is often best to start with a broad search and then gradually narrow down by adding additional search criteria.

[louisa maud]

KitCarson
I see you have been a RC member for a  long time, can we help you,?  I don't feel you are by any means a beginner

Louisa Maud

[KitCarson]

Thanks Craclyn, maybe that's where I'm going wrong.  Not enough patience to whittle things down.  New positive attitude with FS

Hi Louisa Maud, as you say, not a total beginner (however, I struggle like everyone else).  I just feel I would benefit from other's experience of FS and what they find works (or doesn't), as I feel other's get much better results than I have managed.  No particular brick-wall that I'm looking at tearing down, just a feeling that I could do a better job on FS generally.

best of health and well-being to all, in the current situation,

Kit

[louisa maud]

Happy hunting

Louisa Maud