Search Tips
for the Web Site Search Engine
Return to Advanced Search
*Looking for books available in the
Libraries? Use the UNT
Library Online Catalog
*Searching for journal article information
through databases and indexes? Use the
Electronic Resources
page
*Trying to find online information sources? Use the
Electronic Resources
page
To get more specific search results, try using the following tips:
|
 |
|
 |
Use a different collection
The searches are divided into three
collections:
UNT Libraries - searches the Libraries' web site and
associated documents (including the Electronic Resources) with the
exception of the Texas Register documents
Electronic Resources - searches any item on the
Electronic Resources
sub web, including databases, indexes, online reference books and
web sites, electronic journals and more.
Government Information - searches the Libraries' web site,
the CyberCemetary and the Texas Register. It does not search
Electronic Resources
|
Check spelling
Make sure your search terms are spelled correctly. If
Sound-Alike Matching
is turned on, the search engine will attempt to find words that sound similar
to your search terms, but it's always best to try to spell the search terms
correctly.
Example: psycinfo (correct) instead of psychinfo
(incorrect)
Example: library (correct) instead of libray
(incorrect)
|
Use multiple words
Using multiple words will return more refined results than a single word. For example, typing interlibrary loan form will return more relevant results than typing just interlibrary. (Keep in mind that relevant results are returned even if they don't contain all query terms.)
Example: interlibrary loan form
|
Use similar words
The more similar words you use in a search, the more relevant your results will be.
Example: laws legal justice
|
Use quotation marks
Use quotation marks to find words which must
appear adjacent to each other,
for example, "remote storage request form". Otherwise, the search results
will include the words remote, storage, request, and form, but not necessarily in that order. The words
may appear anywhere, and in any order, within the document.
Note: if you are using the Advanced Search Form with radio buttons for "any," "all," and "phrase," then quotes can only be used when the "any" radio button is selected. Quotes are ignored if the "all" or "phrase" radio buttons are selected.
Example: "remote storage request form"
|
Use plus (+) or minus (-)
Use a plus sign (+) when your search term or phrase must appear in the search results. Use a minus sign (-) to indicate undesirable term(s). The plus sign tells the search engine that a certain word or phrase is required in the search results, and a minus sign indicates that a word or phrase must be absent in the search results.
Note: A phrase must be contained within quotation marks. Leave no spaces between the plus or minus sign and the term.
Note: if you are using the Advanced Search Form with radio buttons for "any," "all," and "phrase," then plus and minus can only be used when the "any" radio button is selected. Plus and minus are ignored if the "all" or "phrase" radio buttons are selected.
Example: +"texas legislature"
Example: legislature -texas
|
|
Use field searches
Field searches allow you to create specific searches for words that appear in a specific part of a document. A field search can be performed on body text (body:), title text (title:), alt text (alt:), meta description (desc:), meta key words (keys:), URL (url:) or meta target key words (target:). The field name should be in lower-case and immediately followed by a colon. There should be no spaces between the colon and the search term.
Note: The field searches can only be followed by a word or phrase. Phrases must be contained within quotation marks.
Note: if you are using the Advanced Search Form with a list box for the field name, then field names can only be entered before a word or phrase when the "any" option is selected. Specific field names are ignored if any other Advanced Search Form field is selected in the list box.
Examples:
title:"open hours"
desc:psychology
keys:articles
body:"Texas laws"
alt:image
url:music
target:tutorials
|
Use wildcards
Wildcard searches can expand the number of matches for a particular request.
The *
character is used as the wildcard character.
For instance, searching for law* will find the words
law, laws, lawyer, lawyers and any other word that
starts with law.
Searching for *her* will find the words here,
whether, together, gathering and any other words that
contain her anywhere in the word.
Wildcards may be combined with the standard plus (+) and minus (-) modifiers,
quotes for phrases, as well as the field search specifiers.
+law* -*leg* will find all pages which have a word that starts
with law* and which does not contain a word that contains
leg anywhere in the word.
"wh* are" will find the phrases where are, what are,
why are, etc.
Examples:
law*
*her*
"wh* are"
|
This page maintained by
Beth Thomsett-Scott, Science
and Liaison Librarian
Reference & Information Services,
Science & Technology Division
University of North Texas
P.O. Box 305190
Denton, TX 76203-5190
| UNT
Libraries Home Page / Resources
for Library Research / Library
Services / Exhibits & Collections / About the Libraries / New & Noteworthy / UNT Libraries Catalog / Electronic Resources / Library Services for UNT Off-Campus Users / Ask a Librarian / How Do I Begin / How to Find Books & Articles / Site Map / Search This Web Site / AA/EOE/ADA |
|
 UNT Home |
|
| Comments |
©
2000 University of North Texas Libraries. All rights reserved. |