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NUTR 20 Hobbs: Using Keywords & Search Strategies

Principles of Foods

Brainstorming Keywords

The words you type into the search box affect your search results. Not all authors use the same language to describe similar topics, so you will need to try a variety of searches.

  • Create a list of possible words that could appear in a book or article related to your topic of interest.
  • Come up with synonyms or related terms for those.
  • Stick to using 2-4 (mostly) nouns when searching.

Connect Keywords with Boolean Operators

Operator Example
AND joins dissimilar terms. It helps narrow your search. chef AND California
OR joins similar terms. It helps broaden your search.

chef OR "executive chef"
Use AND & OR together, as well.

chef OR "executive chef"

AND California

Find Phrases with Quotation Marks

  • “registered dietitian”
  • “head chef”
  • "job outlook"

How to Choose Keywords

McMaster Libraries (2:42)

Online Research: Tips for Effective Search Strategies

Sarah Clark (3:04)