Family Search Using Wildcards



What are wildcards? A symbol that replaces or represents one or more letters.  The asterisk (*) replaces one or more letters and the question mark (?) replaces a single letter.
The Java Tutorials describe: “In generic code, the question mark (?), called the wildcard, represents an unknown type. The wildcard can be used in a variety of situations: as the type of a parameter, field, or local variable; sometimes as a return type (though it is better programming practice to be more specific). The wildcard is never used as a type argument for a generic method invocation, a generic class instance creation, or a supertype.”(1) 
Why do we use them in genealogy?                                                         
To help us find misspelled names, transcription errors and to help widen the parameter of our searches.  To help us locate records using alternate spellings.

How do we use them in genealogy?
Check the genealogy database site for search tips and find out if the site accepts wildcards.  Each site will be different in their implement and use of wildcards and learning about those different uses will pay off for the researcher.  Usually when using wildcards you will have to do several searches using various spellings and different combinations of various question marks and asterisks.  This is where a research log will come in handy by telling you what searches you have completed and what searches you want to complete.

When do we use them in genealogy?
When we are having trouble finding specific records. When we want to be sure we have found all the records available for the family we are searching.

Where do we use them in genealogy?
Anytime and every time we do a computer database search.  Wildcards will allow users to do an in-depth and exhaustive search in the various databases searched.

Sources:
(1)  The Java Tutorials:  http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/generics/wildcards.html
(2)  Anderson, Steve, “Searching with Wildcards in Family Search, published 10 April 2014, Family Search Blog:  https://familysearch.org/blog/en/searching-wildcards-familysearch-2/
(3)  Computer Hope.com, “Wildcard” accessed 8/7/2014;  http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/w/wildcard.htm
(4)  Haddad, Diane,   “Now What?: Find Ancestors Online With Search”, Family Tree Magazine, 2 December 2010, online: www.familytreemagazine.com/article/Now-What-Online-Search-Wildcards
(5)  Eastman, Dick, “Use of Wildcards in Online Searches”, Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter,  27 April 2011 online:  http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2011/04/use-of-wildcards-in-online-searches.html
(6)  Seaver, Randy, “Ancestry.com,’New Search’ Results with Wild Card Names”, Genea-Musings, 6 September 2013, online:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/09/ancestrycom-new-search-results-with.html

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