What is Boolean searching and why should I use it?
Boolean searching is a method that allows you to combine multiple concepts within a topic. This is done by using the following connectors: and, or, not. And is most frequently used to narrow a topic, e.g., ‘death penalty’ AND race would retrieve all items pertaining to both topics and no items pertaining to either topic by itself. Or is used to expand a topic, e.g., ‘death penalty’ OR race would retrieve all items pertaining to either topic, which means you would retrieve many items about race that don’t mention the death penalty and vice versa. Not is used to exclude unwanted topics, e.g., ‘death penalty’ NOT race would retrieve items only pertaining to the death penalty and would retrieve no items pertaining to both. Below are some examples of Boolean searches. Use “and” to narrow the topic. Sports and Women Use “or” to expand the topic. Sports or Women Use “not” to exclude, or rule out certain words or concepts.
