Phrases, Boolean Operators, + and -

Many search engines allow you to search for a specific sequence of words (called a phrase). Phrases are entered with quotation marks around them (as in "Middletown Thrall Library"). The quotation marks tell the search engine find these words in this exact order. Using phrases can help you cut down on irrelevant search results.

Some search engines allow you to use something called Boolean operators, which are most commonly represented by the words AND and OR. You can use AND to instruct the search engine to return web pages with two words or phrases (as in Middletown AND "Thrall Library").

OR tells the search engine to report matches for either the first or second word or phrase (as in Middletown OR "Thrall Library"). OR will produce many more results, many of which may be irrelevant.

Some search engines support the use of + and - symbols. When placed before a word (as in +Middletown) the + symbol tells the search engine find this word. When a - symbol is placed before a word (as in -library) the search engine is told not to find that word.

Each search engine is different and may support some or all of the above search syntaxes. To learn what a search engine supports, along with any other special search techniques it might offer, click on its help link for more information.