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(Created page with '== What is a primary source? == A primary source is any record created during the time you are researching - an eyewitness account. Primary sources can take many forms, such as…') |
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== What about published transcriptions and translations - are they primary documents? == | == What about published transcriptions and translations - are they primary documents? == | ||
Published versions of primary sources are useful and are sometimes the only way researchers can access necessary information. But beware. They are not always reliable. Errors can occur in even the most careful transcriptions. Sometimes transcribers skip information they consider unnecessary. Sometimes they make "corrections" that actually introduce errors. And even the best translations lose something in the process. In short, use them with caution and recognize that quality will vary. Try to find the most reliable versions of documents that you can. | Published versions of primary sources are useful and are sometimes the only way researchers can access necessary information. But beware. They are not always reliable. Errors can occur in even the most careful transcriptions. Sometimes transcribers skip information they consider unnecessary. Sometimes they make "corrections" that actually introduce errors. And even the best translations lose something in the process. In short, use them with caution and recognize that quality will vary. Try to find the most reliable versions of documents that you can. | ||
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