Search Syntax Translation Tools
A search strategy and keyword combination that works in one database may not work as well in another. Fortunately, there are some guides to help you translate your search strategy from one database to another. Here are a few tools:
Combining Search Terms with Boolean Operators
Combining keywords or phrases with the word AND tells the database to look for articles that include BOTH words.
Example: adhesive capsulitis AND electrotherapy.
Combining keywords or phrases with the word OR tells the database to look for articles that include EITHER or BOTH the words. This expands your results, and is useful when you want the database to look for synonyms.
Example: adhesive capsulitis OR frozen shoulder
Combining keywords and phrases with the word "NOT" tells the database to eliminate articles that contain the keyword you specify.
Example: Adhesive Capsulitis NOT infant
Tip: When you are combining terms with AND and OR, it is helpful to capitalize them. This lets the database know that you are looking to combine terms, and that you are not looking for articles that contain the keyword and.
Getting the Most Out Of Your Search
Putting the asterisk symbol at the end of the root of keyword can increase the sensitivity of your search and help you find more results
Example:
electrotherap*=electrotherapy, electrotherapies, electrotherapeutic
Keep in Mind: The * symbol is more effective in some databases than others.
Phrase searching allows you specify when you are looking for a specific phrase. For example, if you are looking for articles on "adhesive capsulitis", the quotation marks tell the database not to search for the keyword "adhesive" apart from "capsulitis."
Note: Most of BU's databases will do a phrase search when you enclose your keywords in double quotation marks. The exception is Embase, which only requires 'single quotation marks' when searching for phrases.
| Database | Operators |
|---|---|
| PubMed | No proximity operators available in PubMed |
| Embase |
NEAR/n (example: Plantar Fasciitis NEAR/5 rehabilitation) NEXT/n (example:Plantar Fasciitis NEXT/5 rehabilitation) |
| CINAHL & PsycInfo |
Near(N) operator: (example: Plantar Fasciitis N5 rehabilitation) Within Operator (W): the W tells the database to search for keywords that appear within a certain number of words and the order which you specify. (example plantar fasciitis W3 pain tells the database to look for the word "pain" within three words after "plantar fasciitis")
|
| Web of Science | NEARx (example: plantar fasciitis NEAR5 pain) |
