When searching in One Search or any of the library databases use Boolean Operators.
Boolean Operators are three words (AND, OR, NOT) that you can use to combine keywords. AND will narrow a search. OR will broaden a search. NOT will narrow a search by excluding a keyword.
Examples:
children AND divorce
"separation law" OR "divorce law"
"child support" NOT "spousal support"
When developing a search strategy avoid using whole sentences. Instead break down your topic into keywords and use Boolean Operators.
Correct: children AND divorce
Incorrect: "I need to find resources about the effects of divorce on children."
Incorrect: "resources about divorce" AND children
Quotation marks can be used to search for exact phrases.
Correct:
"child custody"
"divorce law"
Incorrect:
"divorce" - avoid putting quotation marks around just one word.
"divorce AND children" - avoid putting quotation marks around a search string.
Truncation can save you time. Use an asterisk * to take the place of letters in a word so that other forms of the word can be searched at the same time.
Example: Teen* will search for teen, teens, teenager, teenagers