Searching Techniques

Searching Techniques

Using Boolean Operators

OR
to widen your search
Example:
tattoo OR piercing

AND
to narrow your search
Example:
tattoo AND piercing

NOT
to narrow by exclusion
Example:
tattoo NOT piercing

Using Truncation, Adjacency and Proximity
The symbols used for these operations and the way they are performed vary from database to database. Always look at the HELP screen in a database to find out how to use truncation, adjacency and proximity.

TRUNCATION
to find variations of a word
Examples:
pierc?
pierc*
pierce
pierced
piercing
piercings

ADJACENCY
to find a phrase
Examples:
body ADJ piercing
body WITH piercing
"body piercing"
Body piercing is common
among many cultures.

PROXIMITY
to find words close to each other
Examples:
body WITHIN 3 piercing
body W3 piercing
Dennis loves body art,
including piercing
different parts of his body.

OR to widen your search Example: tattoo OR piercing
AND to narrow your search Example: tattoo AND piercing
NOT to narrow by exclusion Example: tattoo NOT piercing

TRUNCATION to find variations of a word Examples: pierc? pierc*	pierce pierced piercing piercings
ADJACENCY to find a phrase Examples: body ADJ piercing body WITH piercing "body piercing"	Body piercing is common among many cultures.
PROXIMITY to find words close to each other Examples: body WITHIN 3 piercing body W3 piercing	Dennis loves body art, including piercing different parts of his body.