There are three basic search strategies that can be used when trying to locate information:
And
Only records with BOTH search terms will be retrieved
The AND operator is the most commonly used operator
Or
Used to search synonymous terms or related concepts
This search will retrieve records where EITHER of the search terms is present, resulting in a larger number of hits
Not
Used to exclude a term or concept from your search
The NOT operator is the least-used operator
Different search tools (e.g., catalogs, databases, web) have different searching rules and features. You should always read directions and help screens before using a tool that is new to you.
Librarian search tip: Remember that when deciding on which words or phrases to type in when entering search queries - that because a published source contains words or phrases does not mean the source is "about" (aka: the 'subject' of) those concepts. This is why often "subject" searching may be preferable throughout some of your explorations. For words or short phrases representing core concepts in your inquiries, try selecting database search field options that search those terms as "subjects."