Internet Searching

How to find information on the internet

Here’s what you will learn:

• How to narrow your search (find fewer options)and broaden your search (find more options) using special Boolean terms

• Searching tips• Advanced searching tips

Boolean Logic

Searching Tips

Advanced Searching

Quiz Time!

ContentsClick on a button to find out more!

Don’t do this until

you’ve read everything!

Boolean logic

Boolean logic is a way to conduct better searches on the internet. It is named after George Boole, who first introduced this concept.

Boolean logic is short words or symbols that help you search on the internet. They can help you narrow or widen your search.

Boolean searching is a great way to get the exact information you need from the internet.

Boolean logic terms

AND OR

NOT (or -)

“Quotation Marks”

Back to Conten

ts buttons

AND

Add AND in between words to show that you want information that contains both words.

If you leave a space between words, this means the same thing as AND.

Example: puppy AND chihuahua puppy chihuahua(Both of these searches mean the same thing - you

want information on chihuahua puppies.)

OR

Add OR in between words if you want information that includes either word.

OR is great to use with synonyms (words that mean almost the same) to give you more options.

Example: puppy OR dog(This will give you information that has the word

puppy or the word dog in it.)

NOT or -

Add NOT (or -) in front of a word that you don’t want in the information.

This is good to use if you get information that you don’t want.

Example: soda NOT coke soda –coke(This will give you information about soda, but

will not give you any information on coke.)

“ Quotation Marks”

Using “ “ around a word or phrase means you want the phrase exactly as you’ve written it in the quotation marks.

This narrows your search and only gives you information with that exact phrase.

Example: “Martin Luther King” will only give you information that includes that phrase. Be careful! It won’t give you information with MLK or Martin Luther King, Jr.

Searching Tips

• Put your most important words first.• Use all lower case letters.• Use specific words when searching (example:

don’t search for “crafts,” search for “winter crafts”).

• Don’t use common words – you will get too much information.

More Searching Tips

• If NOT isn’t working for you, try a – right in front of the word. Some search engines (like Google) only use the – symbol.

• Try to make phrases when you can – this will help your search be more specific.

• If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, try a different search engine.

• Try the search engine’s advanced search.

Advanced Searching

• Many search engines have an “Advanced Search” button.

• The advanced search will really do the Boolean logic for you, without having to add AND, OR, or NOT.

• This is great to use if you forget Boolean logic terms!

Quiz Time!!!

If you want a phrase to show up in an exact way, what should you use?

AND OR

NOT“Quotation Marks”

Sorry, try again!

Using “quotation marks” will help you find the phrase exactly

like you type it.

Leaving a space between words means the same thing as…

AND OR

NOT “Quotation Marks”

Sorry, try again!

Using a space between words means the same thing as AND.

If you want to search for two words that mean almost the same, you

should use…

AND OR

NOT“Quotation Marks”

Sorry, try again!

Using OR between synonyms helps you find information that

has either word in it.

Which term means the same as a minus sign(-)?

AND OR

NOT“Quotation Marks”

Sorry, try again!

- and NOT mean the same thing!

Yeah! You’re finished! You now know many Boolean logic terms and other tips to help you search for information on the internet.

References

Chamberlain, E. (2009, February 5). Bare Bones 101: A Basic Tutorial on Searching the Web. Retrieved June 28, 2010, from University of South Carolina Beaufort Library: http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/bones.shtml