There are a number of various tools to finesse a search. Two that we used in class include phrase searching and truncation.
Phrase Searching
To find a specific phrase, with the words next to each other in order, use double quotation marks around the phrase:
Truncation
To search for different forms of a root word, such as discriminat* to find discrminate, discriminates, discriminating, discrimination, etc.. The asterisk * is used in the library catalog and many databases for this.
- child* (child, child's, children, children's, childhood but also childbirth, childbirthing, childish, etc.)
