Subject Searching with Controlled Vocabulary: Emtree
- Similar to MeSH in PubMed, Embase has a controlled vocabulary called Emtree. Terms are arranged hierarchically by subject categories with more specific terms arranged beneath broader terms.
- Emtree entries include more preferred terms and synonyms than MeSH.
Explode, No Explode, Major Focus
- Explode will search with all subject headings below the main heading included and bring up all results listing any of these terms subject heading subheadings combinations. Command to search /exp
- No explode retrieves only the term specified and no headings below it. For example, botany/de only finds records indexed with botany, and not ethnobotany, forensic botany, or palynology. Command to search /de
- As major focus will only search for your chosen Emtree term as a main term. Main terms are chosen by Emtree indexers to be the primary focus of an individual article. Command to search /mj
More Tips: Emtree tips
Keyword Search Tips
Proximity Searching
- Embase allows for proximity operators to search for terms within a certain number of words from each other. There are two types of proximity searching: NEAR/n and NEXT/n
- NEAR/n searches for terms within the specified number of words from each other, in either direction. (therapy NEAR/5 sleep) looks for the word therapy within 5 words of sleep.
- NEXT/n searches for terms within the specified number of words from each other, in the order the words are typed. For example, therapy NEXT/5 sleep would find “therapy for improved sleep,” but it would not find “sleep therapy.
Phrase Searching
Surround phrases with single or double quotes to search as a phrase. This will allow for a more precise search.
Truncation
- In Embase you can use a * at the root of a word to find multiple endings. For example:
- Child* will return children, child's, childhood, etc.
- mobili* will return mobility, mobilization, mobilisation, mobilize, etc.
- You can also use $ as a wildcard to search for letter variants within a word (e.g. wom?n finds women and woman)
- In Embase you can use truncation and phrase searching at the same time. e.g. "early childhood mobili*"
- You can use truncation and quotation marks at the same time. For example, the search “sleep therap*” will return “sleep therapy” and sleep therapies”
More Tips
Embase video tutorials
Quick user guide
