My Information Skills

Self-paced tutorials on research and study skills for TAFE SA students

AND, OR, NOT

The terms AND, OR and NOT can be used to refine your searches - this very useful technique is often referred to as Boolean searching and can be illustrated with these diagrams:
 


AND finds both keywords, which narrows your search because
both keywords need to be present.

 

e.g. "global warming" AND "climate change"

This search using AND decreases your search results.

OR finds either keyword, which expands your search results because
only one keyword needs to be present.

 

e.g. "global warming" OR "climate change"
This search using OR increases your search results.
 
A not B
 
NOT is used to exclude words from your search results.
 
 

e.g. "global warming" NOT sunspot

In this search you will not find any search results with the word 'sunspot' and this will decrease your search results.