Use approximate ages and dates honestly

Sometimes the person preparing a report does not know an exact age or time. An honest approximation is more useful than a precise number invented to fill a field. Explain what is known and avoid implying that a guess came from an official record.

Identify what the number refers to

An age in an old photograph may differ from the person's current age. A date printed on a poster may be the appeal date rather than the disappearance date. Label each clearly so readers do not confuse them.

For time, include the date and time zone when people are coordinating across countries. If a witness only recalls “after sunset,” keep that description and seek clarification rather than assigning an exact clock time.

Keep ranges practical

Use a range when it reflects real uncertainty. Avoid overly narrow estimates based only on appearance. If a form requires a single value and none is reliable, check its instructions or ask the operator instead of fabricating an answer.

• Current age or age at the relevant event?
• Event date or date the information was received?
• Exact time, estimated time, or broad time window?
• Original source for the number?

Review when new information arrives

Update the record when a reliable correction becomes available, and note what changed. Public shares may need a brief clarification if the old value could affect recognition or search decisions.

Consistency matters, but it should follow accuracy. Do not keep an incorrect date merely because several earlier posters already used it.