Using Boolean Operators

AND, OR, NOT, Parenthesis,

NEAR

12/12/08 Straughn High School

 Let get started!

Searching the NET can be a daunting

task.

You could spend hours on an unfocused

quest.

The NET can be organized into sensible

information by using search tools.

12/12/08 Straughn High School

 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 goldfish AND guppies then

your search will yield only documents with
both words.
12/12/08 Straughn High School
 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 goldfish OR guppies in your
search engine then your search will yield
documents that contain the word goldfish
or the word guppies.
12/12/08 Straughn High School
 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.

12/12/08 Straughn High School

 Why not Not?

If you search goldfish and guppy and gets 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 Irma Swordtail? You could miss lots of
information.

12/12/08
 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 (goldfish OR
guppies) AND food .
Don’t use ( ) when you’re only using AND.

12/12/08
 Boolean Operator
NEAR
Narrow a search by using the term NEAR to
retrieve only documents where the
searched words appear close together.
If you search for information on gray cats,
and you type gray AND cats, documents
describing cats that lived in gray houses,
or slept on gray mats, or woke up and the
day was gray might appear on the list.
12/12/08 Straughn High School
 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!

12/12/08 Straughn High School