Search Tips

Using Boolean Operators

         Between search boxes - Combine search terms entered in multiple search boxes using 'AND', 'AND NOT', and 'OR' selected from  the drop down menu.

         Inside a single search box - Combine search terms entered in a single search box by grouping them with parentheses. For example,  (arctic OR Antarctic)

Stemming

Words are automatically “stemmed.” For example searching for “superconductor” will also retrieve “superconductors” and “superconducting.”

Using Wild Cards

Wild cards “*” can be placed anywhere except at the beginning of a word. For example the search for “col*r” will find “color,” “colour”, etc. Using an asterisk at the start of a word will not retrieve any results. For example, the search for  “*olor” will not retrieve any results.

Searching for Exact phrases

Use double quotes.  For example “white sox.”

Searching with all 3 search boxes

The first two fields are grouped together to make a first set and then that set is combined with the terms in the third search box. So, for example a search for "black AND white OR red" would be searched as “(black and white) OR red” and a search for "black OR white AND red" would be searched as “(black OR white) AND red.”