Keywords
Always think about different ways to say the same thing. Start with keywords to describe your topic. Then, within results, look at the abstract and subject headings to identify additional keywords to use.
Using Quotation Marks
Place phrases in quotes so the whole phrase will be searched together and not the words individually
| place phrases in quotes |
| "climate change" |
| "chesapeake bay" |
| "invasive species" |
| "fossil fuels" |
| "high speed rail" |
Using *
When you put an asterisk at the end of a search term it searches for words with any possible ending.
| use * for truncation |
| environment* = environment or environments or environmental |
| "public land*" = public land or public lands |
| python* = python or pythons |
| regulation* = regulation or regulations |
Using OR
When you use OR between search terms, the database will search for any of them. This is useful if there might be multiple ways to refer to your topic.
| use - or - for synonyms |
| "wind energy" or "wind power" |
| "mountaintop mining" or "mountaintop removal" |
| conservation or agriculture |
| "natural disaster*" or hurricane* or wildfire* |
| "nuclear energy" or "nuclear power" |
Using AND
When you use AND between search terms, the database will only show you search results that contain those search terms.
"wind power" or "wind energy"
and
"public land*"
---------
"coal ash"
and
regulation
----------
"nuclear power" or "nuclear energy"
and
waste
and
disposal or treatment
--------------
Additional concepts / key words:
law and legislation
government policy
regulation
international cooperation
environmental aspects
rural
states
countries
