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Searching
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Creating a Search Query
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Phrases | logical operators | truncation | wild
cards | nesting
Most databases don't understand the natural language we speak and need
help understanding what we're looking for. For this, they require a special
set of conventions, including:
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Quotation marks
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Around exact phrases (e.g.
"university of washington")
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Logical or Boolean operators
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Connecting words that narrow or broaden
a search to include only what you need. Examples: OR, AND,
NOT
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Wildcards and truncation symbols
(* # ? !)
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For terms that have variant forms of spelling
or different possible endings. Examples: child* for child,
children, childhood, childish, etc.
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Nesting
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Placing terms in parentheses to indicate
separate units. (Like an equation, (A or B) not C
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Databases and search
engines apply these rules differently, so check HELP files to find out
how to use them.
Click on the links below for
a demonstration of each strategy. Select either an animated movie or
a static image.
<<previous
pg. | next pg.>>
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Perform
a set of guided searches in the Expanded Academic Index. (Off-campus access to current UW faculty, students, & staff only.)
Begin the exercise
(this will open two new browser windows)
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