Corrections Policy

How to report an error

On any individual place page, you will find a Email a correction link. This opens your email client with a pre-filled template where you can describe the issue and provide evidence.

You can also report errors by contacting us directly.

What supporting evidence is useful

The stronger the evidence, the more likely a correction will be accepted.

• A reference to a published place-name dictionary, survey or scholarly article, with a page number if possible.
• A historical spelling form with a date and source (e.g. Snodunesfeld 1086, Domesday Book).
• A linguistic explanation of why the current interpretation is incorrect.
• A URL to a reliable online source.

Corrections without supporting evidence will be considered but may not result in a change, particularly for attested records.

How corrections are reviewed

1. The correction email identifies the relevant place record.
2. The editor reviews the submitted evidence against the current record.
3. If the correction is supported, the record is updated and the change is noted.
4. If the correction is not supported or is inconclusive, no change is made.

Due to the volume of records, it is not possible to respond individually to every submission.

Corrections that will not be accepted

A correction may be declined if:

• it is not supported by a cited published source
• the existing record is better supported than the suggestion
• it relates to a matter of legitimate academic dispute
• the suggested change introduces factual errors or unsupported claims

Recording significant changes

Significant corrections to attested or researched records — for example, where the language attribution is changed — will be noted in the record history. The source that prompted the change will be recorded.

Contributor credit

Contributors who provide corrections that are accepted may optionally be credited by name. This is opt-in only: you choose on the correction form whether to give consent to public credit. Email addresses are never published.

Automated records