Research Tips: Boolean
Operators

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

Learn More:

• AND
• OR
• NOT
• Using Boolean in your searches

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

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

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.

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.