Use AND to connect words that must appear in a document. This *narrows* your search.
"toxic waste" OR "hazardous waste"
Use OR if only one word must appear in a document. This *broadens* your search.
chemi*
Use an asterisk to truncate a word and allow for different endings, for example, chemical, chemistry, chemist, etc. (But be careful if there are words with the same beginning that are unrelated, e.g. chemise)
"nitrogen cycle"
Use quotation marks to enclose a phrase or words that must appear together in a document.
plastic NOT surgery
Use NOT to exclude words or terms from a search. (If you're looking for articles on plastic in the context of pollution, articles about plastic surgery are not going to be relevant.)
Library Guides -- and Subject Guides in particular -- can help you choose databases that are relevant to a specific disciplinary approach. There is a Subject Guide that corresponds with each Whitman major.
