Narrow search and retrieve records containing all of the words it separates.

OR

Broaden search and retrieve records containing any of the words it separates. A space can be used instead of 'or' (e.g., 'mouse mice rat' is equivalent to 'mouse or mice or rat').

NOT

Narrow search and retrieve records that do not contain the term following it.

*

Truncation. This expands a search term to include all forms of a root word, e.g., patent* retrieves patent, patents, patentable, patented, etc.

*

Multi-character wildcard for finding alternative spellings. Use to indicate an unlimited number of characters within a word, e.g., behavi*r retrieves behaviour or behavior.

?

Single-character wildcard for finding alternative spellings. The ? represents a single character; two ?? represent two characters; three ??? represent three characters, and so on. Use within or at the end of a word, e.g., wom?n finds woman as well as women, and carbon fib?? finds carbon fiber or carbon fibre.