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Library Research Skills Guide

Synonyms will give you MORE results

Typing each synonym in one search box when using the advanced search page, then adding OR in between each synonym - then don't put anything else in that box. (See screenshots below)

Example:  Instead of searching for:

women AND images AND media

try

(women OR females) AND images AND media  <--If you didn't have multiple search boxes, you'd have to do it this way for it to work

  • This tells the database that you’ll take results with one keyword OR the other.
  • You’ll take either result, you’ll take both if they’re available.
  • This expands your search and broadens your search results.

 

How this looks in the RamSearch advanced search interface:

Screenshot of the advanced RamSearch search interface showing synonyms in the first search box

Same thing on mobile:

Addng synonyms to one search box on the RamSearch advanced search page - mobile view