I know that there are alot of "newbies" out there to genealogy mail lists and also many of us who are "seasoned" but need helpful reminders on how to post good queries to a list. I thought maybe that posting these tips would be helpful to many of you. Tips for Posting Accuracy is important and sources are vital. Ancestor lists are worthless if the information is wrong. All information need not be accompanied by source citations, but I do recommend strongly that posts either include sources or a note stating that they are available on request. If information is speculation then label it as such until it is proven or commonly accepted as fact. When posting your query try to give as much information as you know, such as dates and places of all vital events if known, along with enough other family members so that the reader can positively identify if they are researching the same family. "Anyone out there researching CALDWELL'S?" is way too broad and most likely won't get you the results that you are hoping for. When posting your query it is helpful to make the message as readable as possible. One paragraph, a page long, full of names and dates, is too tedious to decipher and most people won't bother to take the time to do so. Write surnames in CAPITAL letters. They are much easier to read and are the generally accepted way to write surnames. When replying to a list (this also can apply to private replies) try to quote some portions of the previous message so that other readers are reminded what the "thread" is about. Make it clear what is quoted material and what you are adding. Most mail readers take care of this for you by inserting greater than signs ">" at the beginning of each quoted line or possibly double brackets "<<" before and ">>" after the quoted piece. Use standard Windows procedures to "cut" unnecessary material. By all means NEVER hit the reply button without CHANGING the SUBJECT line! Post your query at least monthly if you have not yet found the information you are seeking regarding your ancestor. New people are joining these lists all the time and they may have the information that you need. Please send all replies to the list you are on, not just to the original poster. Check your SEND TO: and include the list address and the original poster's address. Other members may benefit from the data that you provide. That is why it is important to post to both. Also see the Rootsweb FAQ pages for help regarding your questions about mail lists: http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help/mail1.html http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help/mail2.html http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help/mail3.html I hope these tips help! Have a nice day ~ Kathie Harrison Lancaster County Coordinator, NEGenWeb http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~irishrose/lancindex.html Harrison Roots & Branches http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~irishrose/index.html Listowner of Rootsweb Mail Lists: NELANCAS-L, NEDIXON-L, NESAUNDE-L, MEDICAL-GENEALOGY-L; surname lists - BLUNT-L, BRICE-L, BRODY-L, CALDWELL-L, LILLIBRIDGE-L and WEITZEL-L See the Mail List Jump page for the links to these list home pages: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~irishrose/lists.html All incoming and outgoing e-mail is passed through the most recent Norton Antivirus definitions to assure viruses are not passed.