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Remember to consult the HELP functions in each database to get the best search results. These sample search techniques are used in many databases including EBSCOhost Research Databases, FirstSearch, Thomson Gale Databases, and LEXIS-NEXIS.

Using the Boolean Operator: AND

EXAMPLE: water pollution AND great lakes (searches for BOTH water pollution and great lakes)

Using the Boolean Operator: OR

EXAMPLE: aggressive driving OR road rage (searches EITHER aggressive driving or road rage)

Using the Boolean Operator: NOT

EXAMPLE: python NOT monty (searches records that include python BUT NOT monty)

Searching Phrases

EXAMPLE: "line item veto" (searches line item veto as a phrase--with the words as they appear--side by side) NOTE: Phrase searches in some databases like the FirstSearch databases give better or more relevant results if entered with quotation marks.

Truncation

Truncation allows you to search for a root form of a word and pick up any ending. Do not truncate a word too short, or you will retrieve unwanted matches.

EXAMPLE:

Politic* will retrieve:

• politic
• politics
• political
• politically
• politician
• politicians

Different databases use different symbols to truncate words. Here are the truncation symbols for the following databases:

CAUTION! Do not truncate a word too short or you will retrieve unwanted matches.

Proximity Searches

Proximity searches locate search terms within a specified number range of each other.

EXAMPLE: tax n5 reform (searches records containing tax reform as well as reform of income tax if they are within 5 words of one another regardless of the order in which they appear)

Remember to consult the HELP functions in each database to get the best search results.