These tips can be used, in general, with the Library's OneSearch, databases, and on the open Web.
Try Boolean operators or connectors
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AND = Fewer results. All words must be included. EXAMPLE: American AND food AND traditions. You could also type: American food traditions
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OR = More results. Any one or combination of the words must be included. EXAMPLE: problems OR complications
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NOT = Fewer results. Word(s) must be excluded. EXAMPLE: corn NOT toes
Try a phrase search
- Finds words that appear in the order typed between quotation marks. EXAMPLE: "alternative medicine"
Try a truncation search
- Finds words that start with the letters typed before an asterisk symbol. EXAMPLE: Nutri* will find nutrient, nutrients, nutrition, nutritional, nutritionist, nutritious, nutritive
Try a nested search
- Use parentheses to separate search statements so they can be combined and performed in order. Statements inside parentheses are searched first, and the order of operations is left to right. EXAMPLE: (greece OR greek) AND ("alternative medicine" OR "herbal medicine" OR "traditional medicine")
Try an index or field search
- Find words in a particular index or field. EXAMPLE: search within the Title, Abstract, or Subject field
