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Transcription Tips

  • Please include all text from the footnote at the bottom of each image in your transcription (i.e., BC Archives, MS-0426 Box 1 File 1 / TREGILLUS, Frederick James, 1862-1962).

  • Please resist the urge to correct spelling mistakes or ‘misspellings’ - transcribe only what you see on the page. Do not add editorial comments about the contents of the document.
     
  • If you are unsure of a word on a page you are transcribing, please indicate uncertainty by using the term ‘illegible’ or a question mark in square brackets e.g. [illegible] or [?]. Or, include what you can decipher followed by a question mark e.g. [immediate ?], [-ing ?], [name ?], etc.

  • Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
     
  • Please transcribe all textual elements of the document, including words in a table, in margins, and typewritten text.
     
  • Please do not transcribe words that have been crossed out.
     
  • Do not worry about formatting – text alignment, columns, line breaks, spacing, etc. cannot be easily reproduced in the transcription field.
     
  • It is unnecessary to indicate stylistic formatting e.g. underlining, italics, bolding, etc. 
     
  • Do not transcribe hyphens or spaces in words that may be the result of line breaks in the original text. Remember, the goal is to provide text that future users can successfully search – full words will yield better search results.
     
  • If you come across a page with the term [illegible] or similar square bracketed content, please try to transcribe the word.
     
  • Consider the context and be mindful of contemporary spellings/abbreviations (please check out this helpful database of military terms and abbreviations.)
     
  • Save your work and edits!
     

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