What is an advanced search?

Advanced searching is a way of using search terms to increase the accuracy of your results. You can broaden or narrow down your topic using Boolean Operators.

Boolean Operators

Boolean Operators provide relationships between words or groups of words. Some common Boolean Operators are AND, OR, and NOT. Let's see how to use an advance search using Boolean operators for "vampires" and "werewolves" as examples.

1) If you want general information about supernatural creatures you can search using a basic term or keyword. Let's start with "vampires". This type of search will yield a large number of hits because it is a simple, basic search.

vampires

2) Let's say you want to narrow your search about supernatural creatures, but you want to compare the information you find to only include "vampires" and "werewolves". All you need to do is insert "and" in between your search terms. This delivers searches with hits that limits information by comparing vampires to werewolves.

 vampires    and    werewolves 

3) Perhaps you would like to broaden your search about supernatural creatures so that your research material has information either about "vampires" or "werewolves". Simply add the word "or" between your search terms. This will provide you with information that is only about vampires or only about werewolves.

    vampires      or      werewolves

4) Now if would you like to narrow your search even further, simply insert the word "not" in between your search terms. This will provide you with information exclusively about "vampires" and negates all reference concerning "werewolves".

vampires         not      werewolves