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ENG 101 • English Composition [Donatini]: Session 3 • Boolean Search

Library resources and information supporting Dr. Donatini's ENG 101 class.

Boolean Search

What is it?  The use of Boolean search operators (AND, OR, NOT) is a search strategy used to narrow or broaden a topic or research question search.

"A system of logic developed by the English mathematician George Boole (1815-64) that allows the user to combine words or phrases representing significant concepts when searching" a catalog or database. Three operators are available: OR, AND, or NOT." - Online Dictionary for Library Science (2014).

EBSCO Boolean Operataors

Searching with Boolean Operators


The following examples and definitions of searching with Boolean logic are from EBSCO Connect (2022).

Boolean logic defines logical relationships between terms in a search. The Boolean search operators are and, or and not. You can use these operators to create a very broad or very narrow search.

  • And combines search terms so that each search result contains all of the terms. For example, travel and Europe finds articles that contain both travel and Europe.
  • Or combines search terms so that each search result contains at least one of the terms. For example, college or university finds results that contain either college or university.
  • Not excludes terms so that each search result does not contain any of the terms that follow it. For example, television not cable finds results that contain television but not cable.

EBSCO Information Services. (2023). Top 5 searching strategies handout. EBSCO Connect Promotional Materials. https://www.ebsco.com/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/Top-Five-Searching-Strategies-Handout.pdf


EBSCO top 5 search strategies boolean terms

 

 

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