Since many words have multiple forms, databases provide a tool called truncation. This allows you to search for all forms of a word at once. Notice that all of the words below can be shortened to the “root” they have in common. If you shorten a word in this way and add a truncation symbol (usually an asterisk) you force the database to search for and retrieve all forms of a word at once.
What if your concept must be expressed in more than one word? Simply put that phrase in quotes, i.e., “Game of Thrones.” Doing this will ensure that your results contain those four words, in that exact order.
Truncation graphic
ENGL110 Tutorial Progress
ENGL110
1. Research Basics
2. Developing a Research Topic
3. Types of Sources
4. Thinking About Keywords
5. Brainstorming Keywords
6. Research: Summary
7. All About Books
8. Starting your search: DELCAT Discovery
9. Call Numbers
10. Finding Articles
11. Databases
12. Selecting a Database
13. Searching: Connectors
14. Searching: Fields
15. Searching: Truncation & Phrases
16. Searching: Helpful Limits
17. Searching: Not-So-Helpful Limits
18. Retrieving Your Results
19. Getting Help
20. Research Help
21. Help Accessing Materials
22. Help Accessing Materials - Forms
23. Conclusion
24. Information for Instructors