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Search Medical Databases Using Wild Cards ($), Truncation (*) & Phrase Searching (): Home

There are various ways to search a databases and for most databases, what you put into it will be what you pull back. It is very important to use resources that will expand your search & make it more exact.

Wildcards & Truncation

There are various ways to search a databases and for most databases, what you put into it will be what you pull back. It is very important to use resources that will expand your search & make it more exact.

To get the best results when conducting a search it is important to include variations of a word in your search. Wild Cards and Truncation can help you with that.

For example: In a normal search through a database, if you type in the term Nurse, you would also (without the use of truncation) need to type in Nurses and Nursing to get all variations of that term.

Solution:

Truncation & Wildcard Symbols

Examples

Use the asterisk * (Ctrl + 8) to get both singular and plural forms of a word

The asterisk is considered truncation. You can use it in the following way:

Nurs* = Nurse, Nurses and Nursing

Words that begin with the root word can also use the asterisk for truncation

Run* = Run, Runs, and Running

Disclaimer: Be aware that root word searching can result in a very sensitive search that picks up inaccurate results.

Words spelled in different ways will make use of the Wildcard ? (Shift + ?/); this will give you both versions of that word

With the question mark you can get both versions of a word, without having to type in both.

An?esthesia = anesthesia and anaesthesia

Note: Not all symbols and searching mechanics are the same database to databases.

Medical Research Librarian

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Alysha Sapp
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Contact:
TCU Box 297085

Fort Worth, TX 76129

817-257-8361