Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Thompson Heights (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Thompson Heights. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Name Variations for Thompson Heights ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Thompson Heights: Thompson Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Thompson Heights. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Thompson Heights.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Thompson Heights is located in Putnam County.
To see how the shape of West Virginia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Putnam County: Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln & Mason.
Below are the counties that are near Thompson Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thompson Heights:
- Putnam County (The home county of Thompson Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Hurricane
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Teays Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Teays Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teays Village
- Teays Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Scott Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Scott Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott Village
- Fraziers Bottom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fraziers Bottom is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraziers Bottom
- Eleanor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Midway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Midway is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Winfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Morgans Landing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Morgans Landing is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Landing
- Poca
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Raymond City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Raymond City is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond City
- Bancroft
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bancroft is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 596 people
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Woodville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Woodville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Dodson Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Dodson Junction is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson Junction
- Layville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Layville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layville
- Morrisvale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Morrisvale is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisvale
- Harless
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harless is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harless
- Horse Creek Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Julian
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Julian is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julian
- Emmons
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Emmons is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
- Grippe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grippe is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grippe
- Lory
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lory is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lory
- Dartmont
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dartmont is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dartmont
- Ashford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cabell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Culloden
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Culloden is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culloden
- Milton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Yates Crossing
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Yates Crossing is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Crossing
- Fudges Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fudges Creek is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fudges Creek
- Ona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Salt Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sarah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sarah is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarah
- Barboursville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pea Ridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pea Ridge is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
- Melissa
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Melissa is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melissa
- Wilson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Wilson is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Crown City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crown City is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown City
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Romance
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Romance is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
- Kenna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fairplain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairplain is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplain
- Fletcher
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fletcher is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Kentuck
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kentuck is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Huntsville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Huntsville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsville
- Kanawha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Nitro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sattes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sattes is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sattes
- Tornado
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tornado is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tornado
- Saint Albans
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Cross Lanes
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jefferson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jefferson is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Dunbar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rock Lake Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rock Lake Village is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Lake Village
- South Charleston
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ruth
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ruth is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Elk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Elk is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
- Charleston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Portersville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Portersville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portersville
- Hamlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sweetland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sweetland is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
- Garretts Bend
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Garretts Bend is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garretts Bend
- Tango
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tango is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tango
- West Hamlin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Hamlin is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hamlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
- Yawkey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Yawkey is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yawkey
- East ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- East is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East
- Myra
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Myra is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
- Sod
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sod is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sod
- Alum Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Priestley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Priestley is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priestley
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Banco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Banco is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banco
- Big Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Big Creek is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Chapmanville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Upland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Upland is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upland
- Grimms Landing
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Grimms Landing is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimms Landing
- Apple Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Apple Grove is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Arbuckle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Arbuckle is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbuckle
- Hogsett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hogsett is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogsett
- Southside
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Southside is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southside
- Arlee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Arlee is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlee
- Fivemile
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fivemile is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fivemile
- Leon
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Leon is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Beale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Beale is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beale
- Brighton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brighton is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Gallipolis Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Gallipolis Ferry is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallipolis Ferry
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Nestlow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nestlow is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nestlow
- Armilda
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Armilda is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armilda
- Cove Gap
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cove Gap is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Gap
- East Lynn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Lynn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lynn
- Wayne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Buffalo Creek is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Creek
- Kiahsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kiahsville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiahsville
- Centerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Centerville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Ceredo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Echo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Echo is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Kenova
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Boyd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Catlettsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lockwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lockwood is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
- Gallia County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Bladen
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bladen is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bladen
- Crown City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Crown City is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Eureka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Eureka is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Gallipolis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Westbrook Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Westbrook Village is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
- Patriot
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wigner ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wigner is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wigner
- Lawrence County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Athalia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Athalia is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Proctorville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Scottown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Scottown is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottown
- Rockwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rockwood is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Chesapeake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Willow Wood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Willow Wood is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Wood
- Linnville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Linnville is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linnville
- Sybene
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sybene is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sybene
- Greasy Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Greasy Ridge is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greasy Ridge
- Aid
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Aid is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aid
- Andis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Andis is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andis
- Burlington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Burlington is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thompson Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Thompson Heights.
Cemeteries Near Thompson Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thompson Heights.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Thompson Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thompson Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Valley View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Thompson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Culloden Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Burton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Morris Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Zoar Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sycamore Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Neal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Trace Fork Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trace Fork Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Trace Fork Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the northeast of Hamlin.
- The Trace Fork Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Trace Fork Baptist Church Cemetery
- Trace Fork Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2239634 <2>
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (934 more) ...
- Milton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Brown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>
While we didn't find Thompson Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Thompson Heights.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thompson Heights, with the one closest to Thompson Heights listed first.
- Hurricane
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Culloden
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Culloden is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culloden
- Teays
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nye
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nye is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nye
- Milton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Portersville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Portersville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portersville
- Mount Olive
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mount Olive is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Scary
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Scary is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scary
- Swann
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Swann is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swann
- Ona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fudges Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fudges Creek is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fudges Creek
- Upland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Upland is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upland
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Hamlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sweetland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sweetland is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
- Garretts Bend
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Garretts Bend is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garretts Bend
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thompson Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thompson Heights.
Newspapers Published in Thompson Heights ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thompson Heights.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thompson Heights, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thompson Heights.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Thompson Heights:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Putnam County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Cabell County
- Jackson County
- Kanawha County
- Lincoln County
- Logan County
- Mason County
- Wayne County
- Boyd County
- Gallia County
- Lawrence County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Thompson Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Thompson Heights, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |