Skip to Main Content
Nova southeastern University logo Martin and Gail Press Health Professions Division Library Logo

Research Tips: Boolean
Operators

Why Use Boolean?

Boolean can connect search terms together in a way that the database understands what you're searching for.

Learn More:

AND

The AND operator:

  • Use to connect different concepts
  • Requires all of the search terms to appear in the records you retrieve. 
  • Limits your search. The more concepts that you AND together, the smaller the search results.

Example:

obesity AND soft drinks

OR

The OR operator:

  • Use to join synonyms or related terms
  • Instructs the database to retrieve any record that contains either (or all) of the terms.
  • Expands your search. The more terms that you OR together the more records you will retrieve.

 

Example:

soda pop OR soft drinks

 

NOT

The NOT operator:

  • excludes results with that keyword
  • reduces results

Example:

soft drinks NOT sports drinks

 

WARNING:  Use NOT with caution. It could remove relevant results that discuss both the topics- soft drinks and sports drinks.

 

How to Use Boolean Terms in your Search

AND - Use to combine concepts 

  • Type in one concept per search box.
  • Use AND between the search boxes. The database will find articles that cover both concepts.


 

 

OR  - use with synonyms or related words

  • Type in one keyword per search box.
  • Use OR between the search boxes. The database will find articles that cover either keyword.