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Library Services for Studying Online: Search tips

Identify your keywords

To begin your research, identify the major keywords that will help you find relevant information. Then, think of alternative search terms or synonyms: e.g. physical activity may also be referred to as physical exercise, and diet may also be referred to as nutrition.

If you cannot think of any other terms, read a few articles, or items on your reading list, and look at the keywords used in these. Be creative and think around your topic.

The video below will give you some guidance on picking out keywords from your assignment question, and on the importance of using synonyms.

Tips for searching

You can use these techniques in many Library resources and search tools to improve your results:

  • Phrasemarks around two or more words ensure that you only find results where those words are together in that order, e.g. “distance learners”
  • An asterisk will search for any group of letters after the root word, e.g. learn* will find learns, learn, learning, learners, etc.
  • A question mark will search for any one letter, e.g. wom?n will find women and woman