The databases simply match the words you enter in the search box. Not all authors use the same language to describe similar topics, so you will need to try a variety of searches.
Examples
Using AND, OR, and NOT with keywords can help broaden or narrow your search.
AND | OR | NOT |
joins dissimilar terms; helps narrow your search Example gender AND "Paradise Lost" |
joins similar terms; helps broaden your search Example ethics OR morality |
excludes terms; helps narrow your search Example "John Milton" NOT biography |
The asterisk * is the most common truncation symbol.
"How Library Stuff Works: How to Choose Keywords" by McMaster Libraries (2:42) is licensed under CC-BY.
"How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT)" by McMaster Libraries (3:43) is licensed under CC-BY.