Boolean Search Guide

A skill for constructing precise, reproducible search queries using Boolean operators across major academic databases. Covers AND, OR, NOT logic, proximity operators, truncation, field codes, and strategies for building systematic search strings.

Boolean Operator Fundamentals

Core Operators

AND  — Narrows results. Both terms must appear.
       "machine learning" AND "drug discovery"

OR   — Broadens results. Either term may appear.
       "deep learning" OR "neural network"

NOT  — Excludes results. Removes records containing the term.
       cancer NOT "lung cancer"