How to say "You're wrong"?

[Suffolkgal]

I have the marriage of Person X in 1792 but have hit a brickwall before that date.  Strongly suspect they originated in Ireland but I can find nothing earlier.  However, someone has posted a family tree on Anc. giving X’s birth three years before his wedding and attributing a couple married in 1845 to the bride’s parents.  What’s the etiquette here?  How do you point out there's something wrong... in a nice way? 

[Jebber]

I wouldn't bother contacting anyone with such glaring errors in their tree, they obviously haven't done any serious research. Some people see a name that fits but don't bother to look to see when or where they were born,

I have come across many similar examples. Parents  born nearly 200 years after their children, a woman giving birth to children six months apart, one in America the other in England, are just two examples.

[jim1]

I wouldn't bother.
Obviously someone name collecting so probably won't listen.
If they're not prepared to do the research correctly at best they'll
ask to see your tree & just add it to theirs making it more of
a nonsense that it already is.
You know you're right & that's all that matters.

[chris_49]

Broadly I agree with Jebber and Jim, but this mistake could be a one-off. I recently found a case in my tree where I'd made a typo entering a birth year, so their child's birth year looked unlikely. If the tree is full of such errors then no point in contacting, otherwise a respectful "Are you sure?" would be OK.

Don't hold out too much hope for a reply, though.

[Nic.]

I spent ages putting together why a marriage was wrong giving census returns BMD references and even a Marriage announcement in the local press which I sent to someone.   It was totally ignored because according to the ‘hints’ it had to be what they had.  Hopefully they will eventually realised the error in their tree.

[suey]

I always try to see how many names they have in their tree, you can soon spot the name collectors.

If you think it’s a one off mistake then go for it. But take a look at some other entries in the tree...if there are more mistakes then don’t bother.

[ms_canuck]

I also take a look at their profile to see when they were last on Ancestry.  If it's fairly recently, then I might send my message.  For anyone where it says '3-11 months' since they were last on, then I don't bother.

Ms_C

[kiwihalfpint]

Some people see a name that fits but don't bother to look to see when or where they were born,

And they add the death certificate and photo of the tombstone, and it still hasn't clicked to the owner, that they have the wrong person and parents in the tree, but it is a name and to them, it fits.  My fingers have been itching to reply, but I am giving them enough rope in the hope they will realise their mistake.

Cheers
KHP

[jc26red]

I check how many names they have attributed to the tree, then look at the root person’s profile. If that person (tree owner) is a direct descendant then I might contact them, if it looks like they are nowhere near related then I don’t bother.