Combining Search Terms

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Combine search terms using logical operators or connectors to search more efficiently. The most useful connectors are OR, AND, and NOT (also called Boolean operators).

AND narrows

The connector and narrows a search, retrieving only those records containing both terms. Use when combining two different or unrelated concepts.

Examples:

principals and leadership style
shelley and immortality
women and cancer
acquisitions and mergers

shaded area represents articles on both acquisitions and mergers

OR broadens

The connector or broadens a search, retrieving all records containing at least one of the search terms entered. Use when combining equivalent terms or combining terms that express the same or similar concepts.

Examples:

adolescents or teenagers
chlorine or fluoride
nature or romanticism
acquisitions or mergers

shaded area represents articles on either acquisitions or mergers

NOT subtracts

The connector not narrows a search, subtracting all records that contain a particular word or phrase.

Examples:

adolescents not college students
beowulf not computer networking
management styles not book reviews

Note: Be careful when using the operator not. In the example about adolescents, you would eliminate all articles that discussed both adolescents and college students.

shaded area represents articles on management styles from which book reviews have been eliminated

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This page is maintained by Meg Grotti, Coordinator, Library Instruction, Reference Department. Last modified: 12/16/09