1. Boolean operators
This guide shows one how to get the most
relevant results
when searching for resources
PS: it will save you time too!
By Fiona Jones, adapted by Linda Kelly l Academic Librarian @ UCT Libraries

2. BOOLEAN SEARCHING
SEARCH BOX:
This format probably looks
familiar…
STRUCTURED SCREEN:
It makes use of terms &
Boolean operators
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3. A simplified example
is used
to demonstrate
Boolean searching

4. 1.
Write down your topic in its simplest form.
Then break it up into CONCEPTS.
The impact of climate change on natural resources & sustainable development
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
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5. 2. Think of key words that describe each of your concepts
The impact of climate change on natural resources &
Concept 1
Concept 2
sustainable development
Concept 3
CONCEPT 1
CONCEPT 2
CONCEPT 3
Environmental
change
Water
Sustainable
development
Global warming
ocean
sea
river
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6. 3. Construct your search strategy
Boolean logic provides the language one uses to structure a
keyword search.
The search engine needs to know how your search terms relate
to each other.
In Boolean searching,
one makes use of the three Boolean operators:
AND
OR
NOT
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7. Use AND to combine different concepts:
“Climate change AND Water “
Water
Climate
change
•
• Using ‘AND’ narrows your search.
It retrieves items containing all of the search terms or keywords that you specify.
• The blue shaded area represents the search results.
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8. Use OR to enter keywords for the same (single) concept:
“Water OR Sea OR rivers OR Ocean”
WATER
SEA
RIVERS
•
OCEAN
• Using ‘OR’ broadens your search.
It retrieves items containing any one of the search terms or keywords that you specify.
• The shaded area represents the search results.
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9. Use NOT to get rid of unwanted results:
“water
Water
NOT
rivers”
Rivers
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10. The impact of climate change on natural resources & sustainable development
CONCEPT 1
CONCEPT 2
CONCEPT 3
Environmental Change
Water
Global warming
Sea
Sustainable
development
Ocean
Rivers
Water
Environmental Change
OR
Global warming
AND
OR
Sea
AND
Sustainable
Development
OR
Ocean
OR
Rivers
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11. 4. Type your search strategy
ONE SEARCH BOX: Use brackets to separate your concepts
(Environmental Change OR climate change OR global warming) AND (water OR ocean OR sea OR rivers) AND
Sustainable Development
STRUCTURED SCREEN:
Environmental Change OR climate change OR global warming
Water OR ocean OR sea OR rivers
Sustainable Development
Remember to keep track of
what & where you search.
For more info see the
“Simplified Searching Example” guide
&
download the template.
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