Less Is More
Keep in mind that databases will only give hits on exact matches. When too much information is included in a search, you run the risk of eliminating a possible hit in cases where names have been abbreviated or misspelled, where variations exist, or when information is missing. When specifying a date, try including only the month and year as opposed to the full date. This is particularly helpful when doing advanced searches of the SSDI, as some dates are not included in their entirety.

Use the Keyword
When searching a database, I usually begin using only the surname and state. I look at the databases that I get results in and decide which ones I want to check. When I find one that looks promising, even if the results are too wide, I can see from the results where I need to narrow it down. If the database results are in a table, I look at what other fields are available (making note of formatting, i.e., spaces, dashes, etc.). Monday's Quick Tip is a perfect example of this. Cheryl White suggests that in databases where a Social Security number is listed in the results, enter it in the keyword field of the search when available to zero in on the results. This same concept can be used including county name, parents' names, or any other fields that you see included and have information for.

Given Names
If you specify a given name, be sure to also look for variations or abbreviations of that name. Sometimes only an initial is used, or Chas. for Charles, Thos. for Thomas, etc. Also look for variations and different spellings—Eliza, Beth, Liz, Liza, for Elizabeth, Alex for Alexander, Jim for James, Jon for John, etc. If you are looking for an immigrant ancestor, look for their name in their native language.

Soundex Searches or Sound It Out
Some of the databases at Ancestry allow for Soundex searches. This may help you to get positive results, despite misspellings. For other databases, you may want to say the name aloud. In researching an ancestress named DWYER I recently found entries for her in a baptismal listed as WARE, TOIRE, WIRE, and WEIR in this way. Try using different accents too. You may get some strange looks from those around you, but you just might hit on something.

Proximity Search
The proximity search is a valuable tool that allows you to specify how many words can come in between the criteria you enter. This is particularly valuable when you are searching for surnames that are also first names, such as William DENNIS. With the proximity search set at the default of "adjacent," this feature should eliminate false hits that show "WILLIAM Jones, John Smith, and DENNIS Johnson" by only showing hits where WILLIAM and DENNIS are right next to each other. Unfortunately, you will still have to deal with entries for WILLIAM DENNIS Johnson.

There are also instances where you will want to widen the search. Obituary searches may show a listing such as the one below: AGNES HUGGINS Services for Agnes HUGGINS will be held at . . . Survivors include three sons, James, Ronald, and Joseph. In this example, a search with a wider proximity setting, or no proximity at all, will also show this entry to someone who was searching for JAMES HUGGINS since both names appear in the entry.

Date Range
This is a helpful feature that is often overlooked. If you are searching for a common name, it can make a huge difference in the number of hits you have to wade through. For example, a search for JOHN SMITH in Louisiana turns up 4,528 entries in military records. By specifying the date range of 1800-1850, I reduce the number of hits to eleven, a much more manageable number.