Here’s an example of the OR operator in action: Using the OR operator between terms will mean we also receive results which contained only one of our search terms. Where we used the AND operator in the previous section it was to only see results which contained both terms. It is used between two search terms or phrases to expand the search. Tip: It’s good practice to place operators in capital letters to make them more identifiable. Outside this post this will sometimes be referred to as your ‘ search string’. Search query: Search query refers to the whole of your constructed search, including the individual terms and operators.Outside of this post you also may see them referred to as ‘ modifiers’. Operators: refer to the symbols or words you can use to increase/reduce your search results to provide you with the most relevant results.Terms: refer to the individual words you are searching for.Throughout this post we will be using a number of words you will need to be familiar with. Tip: Before you read this post you might find it helpful to have an awareness of the databases most commonly used in your subject area you can find them in your Library subject guide. In this post we will look at several of the most common search operators and how they affect the number and types of results that will be returned. The use of operators in your searches such as Boolean and proximity can help you to broaden or narrow your search to the most relevant results. Your ability to search effectively for information is vital to find the best resources for your work.

“Search Key” by Got Credit is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Introduction

Boolean search terms list