XU.TUTOR
Defining the Question
Indentifying Resources
Improving a Search
Evaluating Websites
Preventing Plagiarism
XU.TUTOR Home

xu.tutor: Improving a Search

3. Using the OR operator

In our search example, the OR operator is used to combine terms that are equivalent or that have similar meanings; for example, Facebook OR MySpace or Social Networking . This will result in documents that discuss any of the terms.

Operator Effect Results Terms included
OR Broadens Increases

Any of the following terms:

Facebook
MySpace
Social Networking

Using the OR operator usually retrieves more documents than a search by either of the two terms alone. Therefore, when a search produces too few documents, combine similar terms with the OR operator.

<<back next>>

Copyright 2008 : Xavier University : McDonald Library : 3800 Victory Parkway : Cincinnati, OH 45207-5211 : 513 745-3881