Some mergers will automatically take place; however, some will require human intervention. When two records are found to be similar, but not similar enough to be automatically merged, a hint is created. A hint is displayed as a light bulb in Starfield™ and signifies a possible duplicate.
Click on a light bulb to display the two records for comparison. The left box will contain your record while the right box will contain the possible duplicate. Although the records may not be identical, you should merge them if they are in fact duplicates.
When comparing records, first look at their names. Sometimes spellings can be different, but the records are actually the same; on the other hand, many different ancestors have the same name. Also, notice if they use titles (such as Sr., Jr., etc.) as this can help identify ancestors. If the names appear to be the same, look at the dates. Dates give a very good indication of possible matches and non-matches. You don't want to accidentally merge a father and son because they share the same name. Next, look at the family relationships. Look at the names and dates of their parents, siblings, spouses, and children. All of these factors should be considered before you merge two records.
If the records are duplicates, click Merge in the right box. If, after comparing the records, you are still not sure, use
Collaborate to contact the member who submitted the other record. If you are certain that the records are not duplicates, press Clear to clear the hint.