Evaluating "errors" in the FamilySearch Family Tree

Unfortunately, the situation shown above with this screenshot for John Andrew b. 1700 is quite common. The FamilySearch.org Family Tree is liberally sprinkled with red icons and the purple ones also that say "No sources attached." But does this particular entry represent an error? Yes, if we considered entering information without a source an error and we define an "error" as information added to the Family Tree either without a source or failing to properly reflect the information contained in the source. But is this particular entry an error? In this case, there is also a blue icon indicating that there is a record hint. What does the record hint say?

This entry would only be an error if there was a record that showed that the information was incorrect. As the record stands, with no sources, it is not possible to determine if the information is correct or not. So, we look at the Record Hints. Here is what the Detail page for this person looks like before checking the Record Hints.

There are four record hints altogether. Here is a screenshot of the Research Helps page for the same person.

This page shows that the items marked by the red icons are a possible duplicate (a new addition to the Data Problems world on the Family Tree) and a missing standardization. So now, if I check the Record Hints, standardize the record and add a source or two or more, the existing information may be confirmed (no error), changed (errors), or detached (wrong family connection).

First, I look at the possible duplicate. It looks like the same people with the same child. But by merging the people, I create two more duplicates with the wife and child. The merged record still has no sources, but I need to merge the other two duplicate entries. Merging the duplicate for the wife, Alice, produces more duplicates and so forth. By the way, none of the duplicate entries have sources yet.

Time passes. I finally got through the duplicates. All of the entries seem to have cleared up. Every one of the people in the Family Tree now have sources. The only problem left is that the relationship between Edward Andrews or Andrew is not established by any source. All the people lived in the same very small area of England, but that is the only connection so far. But so far, there were no errors just a lack of information. This isn't always the case but it is possible that with some additional research the entire family can be cleaned up.