| The Internet has information that can solve many | | | | can be done as follows: |
| mysteries. For instance, if you are interested in | | | | Use the plus (+) symbol - This informs the search |
| creating a family tree, or would like to fill in the | | | | engine that you want to find pages that feature |
| missing pieces of your pedigree, it is quite possible | | | | every word you entered, and not only some of |
| for you to find information on the ancestors you | | | | them (I.E. john+smith+genealogy). |
| are looking for by conducting your genealogy | | | | Use the minus (-) symbol - By including this |
| research online. | | | | symbol in your query, you tell the search engine |
| However, before you can begin your search, you | | | | you are looking for pages that have one word, |
| will require certain details to successfully complete | | | | but not another. For instance, if the surname of |
| your investigation, such as: | | | | the person you are searching is Rose, you don't |
| -The name of the person you wish to lookup | | | | want to be inundated with results that relate to |
| - Their current or past place of residence | | | | flowers, gardening, and so on. Therefore, to cut |
| - Any important dates: date of birth, death, | | | | down on the number of unrelated results, you |
| marriage | | | | could enter rose-flowers-gardening into the query |
| - Names of other family members | | | | box. |
| - Occupation | | | | Phrase searching - In order to conduct a phrase |
| Although you may not know all of these details, | | | | search, you simply enter the name in quotations |
| you will at least require the name and any other | | | | (I.E. "john smith"). When you surround a phrase in |
| specific information you can find on your relative | | | | quotations you are notifying the search engine |
| or ancestor. If you are having trouble finding any | | | | that you only want websites that feature this |
| resources in your home, ask other family | | | | exact phrase. |
| members to see if they can provide you with | | | | In the event that a search engine does not help |
| any helpful clues. | | | | you locate information on your ancestor, you can |
| Once you have collected the facts, the next step | | | | run a more specific genealogy search by using a |
| is to use an online search engine to provide you | | | | website that has a public records database. These |
| with assistance. Enter the name of your relative | | | | sites may have the pedigree facts you want. |
| into the query box along with the word | | | | However, keep in mind that the more details you |
| "genealogy". If an enormous list of results is | | | | can provide about your ancestor (I.E. year they |
| returned, which is very likely, you can attempt to | | | | were born, etc.), the more refined and effective |
| focus your search and improve your results by | | | | your search will be. |
| using different symbols and phrase searching. This | | | | |