Search Basics

Knowing how best to utilize search tools can prove invaluable when researching material for an assignment.

If you need to search for an expression containing two or more words, you usually do not need to use quotation marks (""). Exceptions include Science Direct.

The search tool automatically locates only those records that include the exact phrase or expression you are looking for.

Example

In most subscription databases, typing in biological diversity will find this as a phrase. In some databases and with the internet, you must use quotation marks. Otherwise the search tool will look for all records that contain both words and not necessarily the exact phrase "biological diversity".