Sometimes, in my more imaginative moments, I picture genealogists walking around like gunslingers, belt hanging low over their hips, ready to draw -- hands hovering over their holsters -- surnames on the left side, queries on the right.

One of the questions I ask genealogists new to the Internet is whether or not they've posted queries on the appropriate USGenweb, Canada GenWeb, or WorldGenWeb site. Many of them have not, simply because they are unaware of the sites, and do not know how to create an effective query.

There are two formats to place your information before the eyes of the interested genealogical community: a list of surnames you are researching, and a query. Before we discuss creating a query, let's take a look at the alternative-surname lists.