3 prong outlet with 2 wires

I'm no know-it-all, but I have done this before. I just need a second opinion because it has been awhile. The first photo is obviously the wall box, the next are photos of the old outlet. The new outlet is exactly the same.

When I removed the old outlet, the wires were VERY short AND they just slipped out of the outlet on their own. I didn't yank or anything. They just weren't secure. Now, I'm needing to know which wire goes where being that #1 there are only two wires. #2 In the past, I just took a wire from the old and put in the same spot as the new and then repeated. I'm thinking they came out of the holes near the neutral/green screw. Obviously, white in the 'white' and black in the other.

Help!? Thanks in advance. EDward

 

If that is nonmetallic cable it is an ungrounded circuit. A grounded receptacle (three prong) can not be installed on an ungrounded circuit. You need to use a two prong receptacle or a GFCI receptacle marked No Equipment Ground.

You should not use the hole in the back of the receptacles (back stab)*. They are less reliable than the screws. The wires you have are too short they need to have wire added to them.

You need to verify this box does not have water collecting in it.

*Note GFCI receptacles are back wired not backstabbed. That is an acceptable method since a pressure plate not a spring finger contacts the wire.

 

you need to add a pigtail to each wire to connect to your new receptacle. At least 8" of wire for each conductor. It should wind up about 4" in front of the box.