Search Tools and Tips:  

 or How to Search Using Search Tools


  • Read "Help " to know search options for each tool!
  • Look for additional search options like "Advanced Search" or "Power Search".
  • Use "AND " when searching to combine words.

        "And" narrows a search and tells the search tool  
            that both terms must be present.
        Depending on the search tool it may be represented  
            in one of the following ways:
            and  AND  +

  • Use "OR" to broaden a search.

        Searching with "or" means that
            either or both words can be present.
        Depending on the search tool or may be represented
            in one of the following ways:
            or  OR

  • Use "NOT" to narrow a search.

        Searching with "not" means that
            the word can not be present.
        Depending on the search tool or may be represented
            in one of the following ways:
            not NOT -

  • " " or "- " Quotation marks or hyphens group words and cause search tools to search the words as a single unit. This is particularly useful when searching names.
  • "," Commas can be used to separate names and titles.
  • Put  most important search words first.
  • "*" and "?" are called truncation tools.

        Depending on the search tool used either "*" or "?" can allow
        the searcher to cut a word short to allow for a variety of endings.
        "hous*" will search for house, housing, houses, etc.

  •  "( )" are used to group words in a search to make a search more specific.

        lincoln NOT (auto* OR car*)

  • Use lower case letters unless directions say "case sensitive".
  • Use specific/unique words to search whenever possible.
  • Consider consulting a thesaurus for word ideas.
  • Check spelling.
  • Avoid articles.  Words like "a", "the", "of", etc. are called  stop words.

        Usually computers will not search stop words.

  • Search options may allow proximity searches.  

        The searcher can specify the relative location of words being searched.
        Words like " near " or " followed by" are some of the proximity terms.

  • Some search tools allow the searcher to  specify a format or the part of the site to be searched.

        Select "format" to search for graphics, sounds, etc.
        Or designate URL, title, text, links, or other parts of the site to be searched.

  • Always plan to search with more than one search resource!