Fix errors in historical record transcriptions or indexes

Before you start

Determine whether you can fully edit the record of interest.

From a record details page

• If you searched the indexed record collections, start from the record details page (the page that shows the indexed information). From a list of search results, click the icon that looks like a sheet of lined paper. At the top of the record details page, click Edit.
• Some indexes are not editable. The Edit button is grayed out.
• If you can partially edit the data, you see a pop-up box with buttons for edits.
• If you can fully index the data, a new screen shows with the record image on the left and a transcription panel on the right. On the small screen of a mobile device, the transcription panel shows below the record image. Continue with the steps.

From Explore Historical Images

• If you clicked Search and then Images, click to view the images on an Image Group Number. Then click to enlarge the image that has a mistake.
• You see the record image to the left. To the right, you see a panel that has information about the image and the image group. On a mobile device such as a cell phone, the panel shows below the record image.
• At the top of the right panel, click the Image Index tab.
• If you see the indexed data, you can fully edit the record.
• If you see a message "This image has not been indexed", you cannot edit the data.

Decide what to edit

Errors can appear on the original document. We strongly recommend that you leave the data field as is. You can create a field to record the correct name. FamilySearch saves both versions of the name. With two searchable options, others can find the name.

Steps (website or mobile)

1. On the panel to the right, find the information you want to edit. Click the corresponding pencil icon and make corrections.
2. If the highlight over the image is correct, click Save.
3. If the highlight is over the wrong word, click Edit Highlight. Fix the highlight and click Save.
4. You can add unindexed information:
   
   1. Click the pencil icon for an event such as Birth.
   2. Scroll to the bottom of the panel, and click Add Event.
   3. In the new Event Type box, click the down arrow, and click an event.
   4. Click Add Highlight.
   5. Click in the image, and add a highlight over the information. Then click Save.
   6. Click Save Changes.
      

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