Davis Library Research Guides for Rio students.
Generally: Use the wildcard and truncation symbols to create searches where there are unknown characters, multiple spellings or various endings. Neither the wildcard nor the truncation symbol can be used as the first character in a search term.
Wildcards
The wildcard is represented by a question mark ? or a pound sign #.
To use the ? wildcard, enter your search terms and replace each unknown character with a ?. The database finds all citations of that word with the ? replaced by a letter.
For example, type ne?t to find all citations containing neat, nest or next. The database does not find net because the wildcard replaces a single character.
Note: When searching for a title that ends in a question mark, the symbol should be removed from the search in order to ensure results will be returned.
To use the # wildcard, enter your search terms, adding the # in places where an alternate spelling may contain an extra character. The database finds all citations of the word that appear with or without the extra character.
For example, type colo#r to find all citations containing color or colour.
Note: Searching the U.S. spelling of words will also include some spelling variations (i.e. colour or odour) but not all spelling variations.
When using the pound/hash (#) wildcard, plurals and possessives of that term are not searched. For example, when running a search for the term colo#r, the terms "colors" and "colours" will not be searched (which they are by default when using the singular "color" or "colour" without a wildcard operator).
Truncation
Truncation is represented by an asterisk (*). To use truncation, enter the root of a search term and replace the ending with an *.The database finds all forms of that word.
For example, type comput* to find the words computer or computing.
Note: The Truncation symbol (*) may also be used between words to match any word.
For example, a midsummer * dream will return results that contain the exact phrase, a midsummer night’s dream.
Google searches broadly across all of the Internet, including commercial sites, while Google Scholar searches primarily academic content--scholarly articles, book chapters, books, etc..
Do not pay for access to articles you find in Google Scholar! Rio and OhioLINK will have the sources that you need.
AND - Limits the Search
Strawberry AND Vanilla AND Chocolate
OR - Expands the Search
Strawberry OR Vanilla OR Chocolate
NOT - Limits the Search
(Strawberry OR Vanilla) NOT Chocolate
From Library La Trobe University
Public Library or Public School Affiliation May Be Required. Contact Davis Library for More Information:
Email: refdesk@rio.edu
Telephone: 740-245-7005
An evolving collection of thousands of online publications and research resources provided to Ohio residents by the Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) partnership. Proof of residency may be required for access (public library card and/or zip code information.)