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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