PGM Editing Guidance - Autobio (Limited Use)

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PGM Editing Guidance - Autobio (Limited Use)

For PGM profiles, we ask that you do not use Autobio, except for a couple of specific situations. Be aware that additional editing is always required.

Contents 1 PGM Editing Guidance - Autobio (Limited Use) 1.1 Appropriate uses 1.2 Required Editing

Appropriate uses

1. The Family List feature can be used to generate draft sections of the bio (Birth and parent details, death details, spouse and child details. [Note: PGM profiles do not include sibling lists. Lists of siblings will be removed) You may have to turn on the Family List option in the WT Browser Extension.
2. If a profile is empty or close to empty, autobio can be used to generate an initial draft to be edited as described below. "Almost empty" means that there is minimal text and no inline citations from reliable sources. (Be aware that sometimes a profile may contain only a single statement that is sourced by a reliable secondary source, such as the Great Migration series, or a scholarly journal such as the NEHGR. Autobio will not be able to recognize this source and will remove it from its inline placement and add it to general sources. Please do not do this.) Most PGM profiles have at least a starting biography, so this is not a common usage.

Required Editing

This checklist addresses the common problems we see with AutoBio-generated text. (Note, some of these can be addressed by changing your AutoBio settings)

1. Check any birth or death dates pulled from any attached profiles. This includes birth and death dates and locations in the children's list and in the narrative for parents and spouses. It's easy to insert unsourced and inaccurate information inadvertently.
2. Remove any age estimates in the narrative, unless there is an actual birth date (or baptism). Most PGM profiles use an estimated birth which can vary widely in accuracy. Inserting these age estimates in places other than the initial explanation for the estimated birth date is misleading.
3. Change any symbols into words. Replace symbols such as <>~ with before, after or about. (In the main narrative full words are preferred, but abbreviations are fine in the children's list)
4. Remove the sibling list. (if one has been inserted). See editing guidance
5. Move as many sources from the general sources section to inline references. Autobio cannot recognize secondary sources such as the Great Migration or journal articles, which may be especially important for the person's birth and parent information.
6. Check that the use of married names is appropriate, considering possible multiple marriages.

• In the narrative, the person's name at the time of marriage should be used, not their current last name. So, for a first marriage, "John Smith married Mary (Brown) Smith" should be changed to "John Smith married Mary Brown."
• In the list of children, it is standard practice to use the first name only or first and LNAB only, and include information on spouses. If a married name is included in the list, it should show all married names for those women with multiple marriages. AutoBio inserts only the current last name. So, in the case of a multiple marriage, "Mary (Brown) Johnson", should be edited to read Mary (Brown) (Smith) Johnson.

When in doubt, consider writing your own text rather than relying on AutoBio.