Read the gaps as carefully as the data

Historical state#

An account may have a publication date without establishing the date of the configuration it describes. Avoid turning an undated observation into a precise chronology.

Identity and relationships#

Shared names and similar specifications can suggest a relationship without proving identity. Unresolved actor or represented-instrument links should remain unresolved in downstream analysis unless additional evidence supports a decision.

Geographic precision#

Coordinates can refer to locations at different levels of precision. Preserve coordinate qualifications and administrative evidence when making maps or spatial comparisons.

Counts and occurrences#

A source-account row is not necessarily a unique physical component. For example, multiple accounts may describe the same stop at different times. Count the unit that your question actually concerns.