Deleting duplicate records safely

[pforbes]

I drag a copy from the right side bar onto the best one in the main window and let the automatic "Merge" function deal with the duplicate.

[Robert Atwood]

I have many duplicate records under Family View - some have two and others three seemingly duplicate records. Any suggestions as to how to safely delete the duplicates. I really have no idea how they occurred. Consider myself a casual user of Reunion. Thanks for any advice.