Name the date type
An exact date is supported to the day or time. An approximate date is bounded but not exact. A partial date may identify only a month or year. A relative date depends on another event. A disputed date has competing support. An unknown date should remain unknown until evidence narrows it.
Use consistent event fields
Each event should contain a date expression, precision label, neutral event description, source reference, review state, and uncertainty note. Add the person who entered or approved the event when the process supports it. Do not turn a narrative paragraph into several precise-looking events unless the record actually supports that precision.
Keep sources beside the event
A chronology is more useful when every important entry points back to a page, timestamp, message, or other stable locator. If two sources conflict, keep both references and describe the conflict instead of selecting one silently.
Write uncertainty into the record
Use direct labels such as “approximately,” “date unknown,” “reported by,” “disputed,” or “inferred from sequence.” Avoid punctuation, color, or tone that makes an estimate look exact. Unknown information is a finding—not a formatting failure.
Review the sequence
Check whether the chronology preserves the original order of evidence, distinguishes creation date from event date, includes adverse or contrary entries, and exposes gaps. Ask whether another reviewer could tell what is supported, what is alleged, and what still needs investigation.
EMB is being built to organize events into a chronology while preserving exact, approximate, partial and unknown dates rather than inventing precision.