Using Boolean Operators and other Internet Search Tools AND, OR, NOT, Parenthesis, Quotation Marks, Plus and Minus Signs

Let’s Get Started Searching the internet can be a daunting task. You could spend hours on an unfocused quest. The internet can be organized into sensible information by using search tools.

-Boolean Operator- AND If you enter AND between two words then your search will only yield documents that contain both words, narrowing your search. If you enter rage and traffic then your search will yield only documents with both words.

-Boolean Operator- OR If you enter OR between two words then your search will look for either word (you don’t care which word), broadening your search. If you type in rage OR anger in your search engine then your search will yield documents that contain the word rage or the word anger.

-Boolean Operator- NOT Not tells the search engine to disregard those documents that contain a word. This is a powerful command and should be used sparingly.

Why not NOT? If you search goldfish and guppy and get lots of information about swordtails, you might be tempted to try NOT swordtails. But what if the best authority on goldfish is an authority on swordtails, too? What if her name is Ira Swordtail? You could miss lots of information.

Review

-Boolean Operator- Parenthesis ( ) Search engines do not read left to right. Most interpret the AND first, then follow with the OR. You can tell the search engine to interpret the OR first by typing (Rage OR Anger) AND traffic. Don’t use ( ) when you’re only using AND.

-Boolean Operator- Quotation Marks h-quotations-using-google.html h-quotations-using-google.html

-Boolean Operator- Plus sign + plus-sign-google-search.html plus-sign-google-search.html

-Boolean Operator- Minus Sign - minus-sign-google-search.html minus-sign-google-search.html

Now Give it a Try Each search engine has different rules about upper and lower case letters and the use of Boolean operators. Check their directions. Try some experimental searches. Browse the results and make any necessary adjustments to the structure of your search words and operators. With a little practice, you can save hours of time in cyberspace and focus on the task at hand.