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Boolean Operators:
Differing interpretations
If you do not use boolean operators to
connect your search terms, databases may be set up to make assumptions
about your search statement.
For instance, when you enter search terms
without using a connector, such as:
be aware that the database may be set up to
do one of three things.
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Search for records
containing all three terms |
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ozone layer
depletion ozone and layer and
depletion |
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This is called
"implied
AND" |
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Search for items
containing any of the terms |
|
ozone layer
depletion ozone or layer or depletion |
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This is called
"implied OR" and is often employed by Web search
engines. This may retrieve thousands of irrelevant
records. |
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Search for a
phrase (i.e. 2 or more adjacent words that occur in an
exact order) |
|
ozone layer
depletion "ozone layer
depletion" | |