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Evaluating Information

Search Strategies

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Quotation marks keep words together as phrases for most databases. However, not all databases or search engines recognize this method. Some databases or search engines use parentheses or single quotes instead. Check the Help page if you're not sure. 

 

Credit: North Carolina State University Libraries on YouTube

Illustration of boolean operators and, or, and not

Boolean operators, also called Boolean modifiers or connectors, are typically what you use in an Advanced Search in GALILEO and other databases, including the library catalog.

The operators are ANDOR, and NOT. Use them to broaden or narrow your search.

  • AND – Narrows your search. All search terms following the AND must be in the record.
  • OR – Broadens your search. Either search term must appear in the record.
  • NOT – Narrows your search by excluding or ignoring words. The first search term must be present, but the search term following NOT will not appear in the record.

Parentheses can be used to group Boolean operators. Watch the videos below for examples of Boolean searches:

 

Source: How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Modifiers "",*,() by McMaster Libraries on YouTube.

Source: How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Modifiers "",*,() by McMaster Libraries on YouTube.

music* musical musician musicians...

Truncation uses the asterisk (*) to help you broaden your search to include words with various endings or spellings.

   Example: Use the asterisk and the root word educat* to get educateeducatededucationeducationaleducator.

?#!

Wildcards also use symbols to help you find variations of words.

   Example: Use wom?n to get woman or women, or use col?r to get color or colour.

Truncation and wildcard symbols vary by database or search engine, but common ones include *!?, or #. Check the database’s Help page before you search.