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Boolean searching (named after mathematician George Boole) is the technique of using the terms AND, OR, and NOT to combine or exclude keywords for more focused and productive results.
Using AND:
Narrows a search by locating articles containing all search terms.
In some databases the AND is implied.
For example, the search college AND university will only locate articles in which both terms appear.
Using OR:
Broadens a search by locating articles that contain either search term.
This can be used to link synonyms.
For example, the search college OR university will locate articles in which either or both these terms appear.
Using NOT:
Narrows a search by excluding articles containing the term after NOT.
The search will locate article where only the first term appears.
For example, the search college NOT university will only locate articles containing the term university.