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Conducting a Boolean Search

A Boolean expression is a complex query that uses Boolean operators to combine keywords.

The Boolean operators set the conditions for a search. The three normal Boolean operators used are:

AND
AND NOT
OR 		eg. windows AND doors 
eg. windows AND NOT Microsoft
eg. windows OR doors

Boolean operators are most useful when combined to produce a more complex, specific query. Boolean operators are not case-sensitive, ie they do not need to be capitalised..

Use brackets to group parts of the Boolean expression together that must be evaluated first.

Example: (Australia OR Victoria) AND awards
 This will return results containing the words "Australia " and "awards", and results containing
the words "Victoria" and "awards".

If you don't use brackets, the keywords combined by the AND operator will be evaluated first.

Example: Australia OR Victoria AND awards 
This would return results containing the words "Victoria " and "awards", and results 
containing just the word "Australia".

If you don't use brackets, the keywords combined by the OR operator will be evaluated last.

 Example: Australia OR Victoria AND NOT awards  
 This would return results containing the words "Victoria ", but not "awards", and results
 containing just the word "Australia".

You cannot use the AND NOT operator before bracketed terms. 

Example: Awards AND NOT (Australia OR Victoria) 
This is invalid.

You can combine exact phrases with other keywords using a Boolean operator. 

Example: Film awards AND (Australia OR Victoria) 
This would return results containing the phrase "Film awards " and the word " Australia", 
and results containing "Film awards" and "Victoria ".

If you enter multiple words in a search engine without using Boolean operators between words it defaults to AND.
  

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