To amplify what Janis said, Chapter 16 of _Professional Genealogy_ is the one that the BU course, ProGen Study and others use to teach transcribing and abstracting skills. The chapter gives examples and gives points on certain characters. It does say that anything you introduce should be in square brackets otherwise transcribe what you see. My own habits depend on how the final will be presented. I may transcribe in a split screen line for line so that it is easy to compare. Then if the use makes more sense to run the lines together, I take out the line breaks. Good to see you on this list, Cynthia! -- Elissa Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL www.PowellGenealogy.com www.GRIPitt.org registration opens 7 Feb 2013 CG, Certified Genealogist, CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are Service Marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluations by the Board and the board name is a trademark registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. > -----Original Message----- > From: On Behalf Of Janis Walker Gilmore > Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 12:22 PM > > Also, if you have a copy of Professional Genealogy, edited by Elizabeth Shown Mills, > there is some great help with transcribing and abstracting. >