Search tips

Are you not seeing the kind of results you’re looking for? Perhaps you’re getting too many results, or some that seem unrelated to your research topic? Try improving your search with the following techniques:

• Frame your topic. A quick way to get better results is to add the overarching subject, which usually happens to be the class you need the research for. If you’re looking for articles on the Industrial Revolution, adding a key word like history, economics, or science to your search can bring up more targeted results.
• Add related terms and synonyms. There are multiple ways to approach a topic and including additional key words in your search can help bring better results. For example, related terms like factory workers, inventions, machines, or steam power would help surface more specific sources when included with the term Industrial Revolution.
• Advance your search with filters. Most databases have Advanced Search options that offer you filters to help narrow your search. For example, you can determine the publication date, select full text to read entire articles, choose subject headings, select a specific kind of publication (e.g., academic journals, magazines, books, etc.), and more. Filters are usually also available on the search results page, so you can experiment with them as you search.
• Looking for something very specific? If you’re looking for a specific name or term, put it in quotation marks. Searching for “Industrial Revolution” or “cotton gin” will only bring up sources that include that exact phrase, which means that most unrelated results will disappear.
• Check your spelling. A spelling error can complicate your search unnecessarily, so make sure you’re spelling your key words correctly.