How can I perform a better Keyword search using Boolean syntax and operators?

Keyword Operators

A simple Keyword search will look for words in many fields displayed in the Title Details, but a more targeted keyword search will rely on the use of specific operators:
 

Search Field	Operator	Example	Notes
LC Subject Heading	lcsubjects:	lcsubjects:nanotechnology	Does not require an exact match.
LC Classification	lcclass:	lcclass:[RA1190 TO RA1270]	Search a single number or add square brackets [ ] and the operator TO for a range.
NLM Classification	nlmcode:	nlmcode:[WD400 TO WD430]
Dewey Decimal	dewey:	dewey:[726.5 TO 726.599]
Title	title:	title:obama or title:”steve jobs” or (WWII pilots)	Parentheses will look for all words; Double quotation marks will look for adjacent words.
Author	author:	author:austen
Author & Title	author: title:	author:bronte title:"wuthering heights"
Publisher	publisher:	publisher:”oxford university” or NOT publisher:"Create Space"

Boolean Operators

Use Boolean search operators AND, OR, & NOT for more complex searches. For best results always use lower case for all keywords and upper case for all Boolean operators, except where otherwise noted.

The Boolean search operator AND is equal to the "+" symbol.  Use AND to narrow or restrict results to both or all of the keywords; a plus sign “+” can be used instead (you need a space before the plus sign and no space after)

• example: music AND blues
• or, music +blues
• Also, you can say nothing, e.g., music blues will do the same as the two above

The Boolean search operator OR does not have a symbol equivalent in OASIS. Use OR to broaden results by grouping synonyms or alternate search terms in parentheses.

• example: (general OR Chrysler)AND detroit
• note: there is no space before AND when following parentheses

The Boolean search operator NOT is equal to the "-" symbol.  Use NOT to restrict results by excluding keyword(s); a minus sign (-) can be used instead (you need a space before the minus sign and no space after)

• example: music AND blues NOT composition
• or, music +blues -composition

Truncated Search Terms

Use an asterisk* to perform searches on words with various endings or when only the root word/stem is known.

• example: admin* will return: administrator, administration, administer, administered, etc.

Grouped Search Terms

Use double quotation marks (inverted commas) to group adjacent words that should be searched as a single term.

• example: “visual arts”

Use parentheses ( ) to group words in any order within a title or to group segments of a query for more complex searches, joining synonyms with the operator OR.

• example: acid and (rain OR precipitation)