Using Operators Effectively

 

'Unforgivable' Operator Mistakes

AND (+)

Search for all the words

Typing AND between keywords

Example american AND revolution (forgivable but unnecessary)

OR ( | )

Search for at least one of the words

Joining two terms that are not alternatives,

Example: american OR revolution

" " (quotes)

Search for the exact phrase

Searching for a string that may not exist

Example: "american revolution battle history"

Putting quotes around one word

Example: "American" (forgivable but unnecessary)

NOT ( - )

None of the words

Using NOT to eliminate relevant results

Example: american revolution -washington

   


© 2011 Information Fluency

 

Information Fluency