Boolean Operators (Connectors)	AND	Finds sources containing two or more ideas. The database will only retrieve items containing both words. AND narrows your search. You can use AND many times in one search. Example: china AND internet
	OR	Use OR when searching for synonyms. OR broadens your search to include synonyms and related words. OR tells the database that the words can be used interchangeably, so it will retrieve items containing either word. You can use OR many times in one search. Example: internet OR web
	AND and OR	Make a complex search using both AND and OR by using parentheses around OR synonyms. Example: china AND (rights OR liberties) AND (internet OR web)
Truncation	*	Common symbol used to replace any number of letters at the ends of words. Helps find singulars, plurals, and variant endings of words. Example: shop* finds shop, shops, shopper, shoppers, shopping Most library databases use *, including the UW Libraries Catalog and ProQuest databases. Lexis Nexis uses ! Check the help screen for each database to determine which truncation symbol is used in that database.
Limits	limits vary	Most databases let you limit search results. Some limits include language, date of publication, publication type, etc.
Phrases	""	Enclose phrases in quotation marks when searching the Web or most databases. Phrase searching in databases varies. Check the online help for additional information. Example: "social movements" Example: "online shopping"

Communication Studies Subject Page | UW Libraries Web Site

For reference help, contact Jessica Albano at jalbano@u.washington.edu
Created: 4 October 2001
Last modified: Tuesday April 08, 2008