You can greatly refine your Quick Search results using search operators. These search operators apply when using the Quick Search tool and Find Citation(s) in Word.

Online Search Operators depend on the data source. Refer to that data source's searching guidelines for details.

Details for each available search operator are provided below.

• The plus sign (+) in front of a word will return references containing that word.
• The minus sign (-) in front of a word, used in combination with another search term, will return references that do not contain that word. This operator must be used with a search term that will return results. The minus operator is then applied to that result set.
• Parentheses () can be used to group search terms together.
• An asterisk (*) is used to search for a partial term in references. This is also known as a wild-card search operator. This operator can only be appended to a word (for example, "*ology" will not work).
• Double quotes (" ") will return references that contain the exact phrase quoted.

Quick Search Examples

+dinosaur +bird returns references containing both "dinosaur" and "bird"

+dinosaur -bird returns references containing "dinosaur" but not "bird"

dinosaur (+egg +fossil) returns references containing "dinosaur" or "egg" and "fossil"

paleo* returns references containing words starting with paleo, such as paleontology, paleontologist, paleontologists

"dinosaur egg" returns references containing the exact phrase "dinosaur egg"

Search Notes

Quick Search - A space between terms acts as an “OR” operator, returning references containing any of the words. Therefore, "dinosaur fossil" returns references containing dinosaur or fossil.

Cite While You Write Find Citation(s) - A space between terms acts as an “AND” operator, returning references containing any of the words. Therefore, "dinosaur fossil" returns references containing dinosaur and fossil.