Constructing a good search can save you a lot of time and effort. By creating better searches, you can eliminate many irrelevant hits. The following search tips and strategies can help you find more relevant information.
Phrase Searching - Putting "quotes" around your search words tells the database that you are looking for that exact phrase.
Example: "secondhand smoke"
Try Different Wording (synonyms) - Think of different words that describe your topic.
Try a Broader Search - Sometimes you might choose keywords that overly specific. Try to think of a broader term that includes your topic. The more general the search, more results are likely.
Look for Limiters - Search tools often present options for limiting by date or range of dates, full-text or specific format, publication type, etc. Look for advanced search options to find search features that may not be obvious at first.