Use the asterisk * to search for words with the same beginning.
Example: instead of migrating OR migration OR migrated… write migrat*, and you will search for all the variable endings of the word.
Example: ”phenotypic plasticity”
The quotation signs indicates two things:
1. You are searching for the two words together as a concept, not separately
2. You are searching for the words exactly as you have spelled them, all "extra help" is excluded (for example variant spellings and plural/singular)
Many search tools have a useful "Help section", and don't hesitate to ask the librarian for further help!
To build a proper search query you need to combine the search words correctly. To do this you should use the Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT:
- All search terms should be included in the hits
- Limits the search result, i.e. reduces the number of search hits
- Space between words equals AND
- Restricts the search result, i.e. less hits
- You may, by mistake, exclude hits of potential interest
Use CAPITALS when you write the Boolean operators. Some databases accept lower case letters, but not all. In Google you have to use capitals.