Help - Search Tips

How can I limit the number of records retrieved?
Can I search on an exact phrase?
How do I search using Boolean operators?
Which wildcard operators can I use to search SSBE and Black Literature Index for variations on a search term?
How do I use truncation to search Journals and Newspapers for variations on a search term?

How can I limit the number of records retrieved?

To receive more precise results, use the Refine Search link or main Search link and try one or more of the following:

Be more specific with your keywords.
Try searching within a date range.
Where possible, try limiting your search to selected content types.
Use Boolean operators.

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Can I search on an exact phrase?

Yes - putting quotation marks around a phrase will allow BSC to search for an exact phrase, e.g. "Martin Luther King".

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How do I search using Boolean operators?

Boolean searching allows you to combine search terms using the three Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT. To execute a Boolean search, enter the required terms separated by the Boolean operators you wish to use.

When you transfer more than one search term from a Select from a list to a search box, BSC automatically combines them using the Boolean operator OR.

AND

The AND operator retrieves all entries that contain all of the terms entered. This normally retrieves fewer entries than searching one of the terms on its own. For example:

Keyword

» select from a list

Keyword

» select from a list

If you wish to search for the word 'and' in a phrase (and therefore do not want it to be a Boolean operator) you should type the phrase into the search box and enclose it in double quotes. For example "New York and Atlanta" will find the whole phrase 'New York and Atlanta'.

OR

The OR operator retrieves all entries which contain one or more of the terms entered. This retrieves more entries than searching one of the terms on its own. For example:

Keyword

select from a list »

Keyword

select from a list »

If you wish to search for the word 'or' in a phrase (and therefore do not want it to be a Boolean operator) you should type the phrase into the search box and enclose it in double quotes. For example: "Brooklyn or New York" will find the whole phrase 'Brooklyn or New York'.

NOT

The NOT operator retrieves all entries that contain the first term entered but not the second. For example:

Keyword

select from a list »

If you wish to search for the word 'not' in a phrase (and therefore do not want it to be a Boolean operator) you should type the phrase into the search box and enclose it in double quotes. For example: "Brooklyn NOT New York" will find the whole phrase 'Brooklyn not New York'.

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Which wildcard operators can I use to search for variations on a search term?

BSC allows you to list records containing variations on a word or number by using the following characters, referred to as "wildcard operators". The wildcards represent one or more characters in a word or number:

Note: only the * wildcard will work when searching Newspapers and Journals. Wildcards will not work in the Black Literature Index Microfiche field.

*	matches any character(s)	polic* will find policies, policing, policy, policyholders
?	matches one character exactly	la?er will find later, laser, la3er, etc.

To search using a wildcard:

Type the stem of the word with one of the wildcard operators in the search box. You can position wildcard operators at the beginning, middle, or end of a search term/word. Click the Search button.

Any records that contain variations on the word you typed will appear on the Search Results page.

Note: If you use a wildcard in one of your search words, BSC does not expand the search word to include related meanings or variant spellings; it only implements the wildcard operator.

Tip 1: using ~ (tilde) to search for alternative spellings

Prefix words with a ~tilde if you are unsure of the spelling. Example: If you are unsure of the correct spelling of Phillis Wheatley, you can search on the term ~Phillis or ~Phyllis and the search will still return results for the correct spelling.

Tip 2: using " " (double quotes) to search for an exact word or phrase

Search for an exact word or phrase by using double quotation marks. This stops the search engine from using the thesaurus. Example: A search on "civil war" will return all records containing the terms as a phrase.

Tip 3: using ( ) (parenthesis) to search for grouped statements

Use parenthesis to group statements. Example: A search on (JFK Kennedy) election will return all records mentioning JFK or Kennedy and the word election.

Tip 4: using : (colon) to weight search terms

Use a colon to weight terms. Weights range from 1-10. Example: A search on egypt suez:10 canal will return records with hits on suez (and its expansions) being ranked 10 times higher than hits on egypt or canal (and their expansions).

Tip 5: case sensitivity

All searches are case-insensitive, so you don't have to know whether a word should be capitalized or not. For example, there is no difference between Alabama, alabama or aLabama.

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How do I use truncation to search Journals and Newspapers for variations on a search term?

BSC allows you to list records containing variations on a word or number by using the * character, referred to as "truncation". The * character represents one or more characters at the end of a word or number.

e.g. polic* will find policies, policing, policy, policyholders

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