CHEM 380 : Introduction to Research
Search Tips
Use these search tips in any catalog or database.
Using AND
Use AND in your search to:
- Narrow down your results
- Find sources that have ALL of your search terms
Example: chemistry AND organic
The green space represents the results for this search.
Using OR
Use OR in your search to:
- Connect 2 or more similar terms (synonyms)
- Broaden your results (so that your results have EITHER term)
Example: Rhodium OR Rh
The blue space represents the results for this search.
Quick Tricks
* Add this symbol onto the root of a word to find results that use all variations of that word.
Example: patholog* = pathology, pathologies, pathological
"..." Place quotation marks around search terms or a search phrase to search for that exact phrase.
Example: "stem cell transplant"
( ) Use parentheses to nest similar terms or to ensure the database will search your terms in the correct order.
Example: (MS OR multiple sclerosis) AND treatment
Using NOT
Use NOT in your search to:
- Exclude a word from your search
- Narrow down your results, telling the system not to include any results with that term
Example: cancer NOT pancreatic