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Lesson 3:
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ghost graphic don't be afraid to use booleans
 

To narrow or broaden any search, you can use a method called Boolean searching.

Two important Boolean operators are "AND" and "OR."

AND

AND is the Boolean operator that narrows your search by combining your main topic with other terms.

For example, let's suppose you want to research affirmative action as it pertains to business.

 

   venn diagram for boolean operator and

Your main topic is affirmative action. The term that will limit your search is business. So, you would use the following search phrase: affirmative action and business. This search phrase tells the computer to find every record containing both affirmative action and business.

 
OR

OR is the Boolean operator that broadens your search by giving the computer more than one term to search for your topic.

For example, if you want to find more books on the death penalty, think of words with the same meaning and combine them using "or."

 

   venn diagram for boolean operator or
We know capital punishment is a synonym for the term death penalty. So, the following search phrase would work: death penalty or capital punishment. This search phrase tells the computer to find every record containing either death penalty or capital punishment.

 

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