The label that separates a date from a guess
An original guide to an invented local display.
Reading our object labels
Not every date on a label has the same kind of evidence behind it.
| Label wording | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Made in 1926 | A maker's record or dated mark supports this year |
| About 1926 | Features of the object suggest a date close to this year |
| Before 1926 | Evidence shows the object already existed by this year |
Look for the small print. A note below the date explains the evidence used for that particular object. The table above explains the wording; it does not supply evidence for every object in the display.
Still uncertain? So are we, sometimes. If a visitor supplies information that changes what we know, we may change a label. A revised date is not automatically a sign that the object has changed; it can show that the evidence has improved.
How does the guide help readers understand differences in the certainty of the dates?
382 exam-style questions on WJEC GCSE English Language 3.1.3 Short and extended response question types. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.