Genealogical Writing and Presentation of Conclusions
Write the proof, not the search story
Genealogical writing presents conclusions so a reader can evaluate them. Choose the form: a proof statement for a simple answer, a proof summary for a brief explanation, or a proof argument for complex or conflicting evidence. Lead with the question and answer; then explain the evidence, correlation, and conflict resolution. Integrate citations at the point of each fact so the reader can verify it. Use plain language, define terms, and distinguish certainty from probability. A narrative of every search is not a proof; include only research that bears on the conclusion.
Traps
Common errors include unsupported leaps, hiding contrary evidence, citation dumping at the end, and overusing probably without explaining why. Another trap is quoting a derivative work as if it were an original. Keep the reader's needs in mind: identify people and places fully on first use, use consistent naming, and avoid jargon.
Worked example
A proof summary might say: Mary Ellis married John Carter in Ross County, Ohio, on 12 April 1838; the marriage return names both parties and the officiant, and the 1850 census places the couple in the same county with children whose ages fit. It then notes the conflicting 1840 census entry and explains why it is a different John Carter. Rule of thumb: every sentence should either state a conclusion, support it, or explain a conflict.