When searching in most places (i.e., Library OneSearch, Google Scholar), you can use AND, OR, and NOT to connect your keywords and build a search phrase that helps narrow or broaden your search results.
- AND narrows your search. Your search will only show items that include all the words connected by AND.
- I.e., birds AND "wind farms"
- OR broadens your search. Your search will show items that include either or both of the terms.
- NOT narrows your search. When you include not, it will exclude any search results that include the word after NOT.
You can also use " " quotation marks and ( ) parentheses to build your search.
- " " Quotation marks will tell wherever you're searching (e.g., Scopus) that you are looking for a phrase and to search for the two or more terms next to each other.
- I.e., By putting " " quotation marks around the phrase "wind farms," where you are searching will know to only look for the two terms together.
- ( ) Parentheses can help you visualize your search and limit what AND, OR, or NOT apply to.
- I.e., (Birds OR raptors) and "wind farms"
