Q. How should I use the words AND, OR, and NOT in a search?

The words AND, OR, and NOT are known as Boolean Operators and can help you search for information more effectively on the Web, in library databases, and in library catalogs.

Use AND to narrow a search. For example, if you search for: college AND curriculum, you'll get results that include BOTH of those terms (not just one or the other). 

Use OR to broaded a search. For example, if you search for: college OR university, you'll get results that include EITHER of those terms. 

Use NOT to exclude a word or phrase from your results. For example, if you search for: college NOT private, you'll get results that include the word "college" but NOT the word "private."

If you have any questions about using Boolean Operators, please Ask a Librarian.