Nearly all databases/search engines include Boolean Operators. Understanding how they work is crucial to being an efficient searcher.
AND:
- Narrows your search by combining two or more search terms.
- Example: Hypertension AND "DASH Diet"
- would retrieve articles about how the DASH diet can help to mitigate hypertension.
OR:
- Broadens your search by looking for either term.
- Example: (Hypertension OR "high blood pressure") AND "DASH DIET"
- would retrieve articles about how the DASH diet can help to mitigate hypertension OR high blood pressure.
NOT:
- Narrows your search by specifically filtering out one (or more) search term
- Example: (Hypertension OR "high blood pressure") AND "DASH DIET" NOT diabetes
- would retrieve articles about how the DASH diet can help to mitigate hypertension OR high blood pressure (while ignoring articles that also mention diabetes).