Basic Search Tips

Quick Tips

Single Term Searching: Enter your search terms in lower case dinosaurs

Use a wildcard (word marked with an asterisk) allows you to search simultaneously for several words with the same word stem. Example, cook*

Capitalize proper nouns to search for specific people, places, or products

Paris

Enclose a phrase in double quotes to search for that exact phrase.

"John Glenn" "New York"

Double Term Searching:

If you type modern art, the computer reads it as modern or art

If you type "modern art", the computer reads it as the topic modern art.

If you type modern and art, the computer reads it as the topic modern art.

If you type modern+art, the computer reads it as the topic modern art.

Exclude sites by using the word (not) if a search term must not appear on the page.

dolphin not football

Combine these techniques to create a specific search query. The better your description of the information you want, the more relevant your results will be.

museum +"natural history"+ dinosaur