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Electronic Search Strategies: Boolean Operators

Electronic Search Strategies: Boolean Operators



The results of performing Boolean searches are sometimes illustrated by the diagrams below (called Venn diagrams.) The diagrams show graphically how using the AND operator narrows a search, using the OR operator broadens a search, and using the NOT operator excludes material from a search.

 

Operator Example The search will find... Venn diagram results
AND north carolina AND prohibition items containing both "North Carolina" and "prohibition."
OR zimbabwe OR rhodesia items containing either "Zimbabwe" or "Rhodesia" or both.
OR broadens a search, resulting in more hits.

NOT*		 mexico NOT new mexico
items containing "Mexico" but not "New Mexico."

NOT narrows a search.
Caution! It's easy to exclude relevant items.





Activity: Boolean Bash

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Design by: Richard Amerman.