Remember, Keyword searches are NOT subject searches.
The word/s you use are just located anywhere in the text.

Using the operator AND

The AND operator NARROWS the search. The more words you combine with AND logic, the fewer records we will retrieve.

Suppose that you are planning a visit to the zoo and need information on elephants and lions.

Here's how your search will look using the Boolean operator:
elephant AND lion

A search engine will interpret this Boolean expression as follows:
The user wants me to show him or her links to all the pages that include the word elephant as well as the word lion

The operator AND means that the word that follows has to be in the text of the pages that are to be listed.

Using the operator OR

The OR operator EXPANDS the search. When OR is used more records will be retrieved.

If you want to find lion OR elephant; In Boolean terms that would be:

lion OR elephant.
A search like this one will give you all the pages that include the word lion, all the pages that include the word elephant, and all the pages that include both of these words.

Suppose you were looking for information on elephants but NOT lions.
You would write the Boolean phrase like this:

elephant NOT lion.

Be careful when you use NOT in your phrasing!
Although you are searching for elephant, the word lion may also be present in documents that contain the word elephant.
If you want to find elephant NOT lion; no records are retrieved in which the word lion appears even if the word elephant is there too.

What happens if you take out the operators AND, AND NOT and OR and write the following line instead?

Then again, some search engines, like Excite and Go/Infoseek, interpret the space between the words as the operator, OR .
This means that these search engines will give you pages that include the word elephant or the word lion or both words.
Again, you will end up with a lot of information that you do not need or want.

In some search engines, such as Hotbot, you will need to choose "Boolean searching" or a "Boolean phrase" in the menu before using terms like AND, OR and AND NOT .
In Alta Vista you must use the search form for advanced searching.
Advanced searching means you must tell Alta Vista how you want to search, using Boolean language.

Because not all Web Sites are created equal

Score	Excellent	Good	Poor
ACCURACY Is it right?	I am able to check and verify the information in another source. Information is accurate and current.	I can find some, BUT NOT ALL information in another source. Information not always clear.	Information cannot be verified in any other source. Information incomplete or inaccurate.
AUTHORITY Says who?	Author's name and email address are on the site AS WELL AS information on the author's qualifications. Authors show knowledge and insight.	The author's name and email address are on the site, but there is no information on the author's qualifications. Content connections not always clear.	The author's real name, email information and qualificatioons are not available. Little or no overall context for information.
OBJECTIVITY Is it fact or opinion?	The author lets me know if what I'm reading is fact or opinion. Ideas come mainly from primary sources.	Some information that SOUNDS like fact might actually be opinion. Primary source use in not always clear.	Opinions are presented as facts; author seems to be "selling" a position (and I'm not buying!) Informatioon not from primary sources.
CURRENCY New stuff or old stuff?	The date on the web page is current and is updated regularly. Links work properly.	The date on the web page is no older than one year. Not all links work properly.	Information is either older than a year or no date is supplied. Links don't work properly.
COVERAGE Does it answer my questions?	The information covers the topic thoroughly and is appropriate for my task. All information relates to the overall purpose.	I could find some usable information. Strong purpose not demonstrated.	It didn't have what I needed. Lacks sense of purpose or central theme.
ACCESSIBILITY Is it easy to navigate?	Information is presented in a way I can easily read and understand. Layout of pages provides good direction. Easy to navigate through the pages.	It takes some effort, but I can understand most of it. Some pages incomplete. Sense of being lost or unsure navigating.	This site is not task friendly! Pages are inconsistent. Difficult to navigate in an organized way.
GRAMMAR Can I read it?	Organizational structure is clear and coherent. Grammar and usage are correct. Punctuation is accurate. Spelling is generally correct.	Long or incomplete paragraphs. Minor problems with grammar or usage. Internal puncutation sometimes missing or wrong. Spelling is usually correct.	Paragraph structure is missing. Errors in grammar or usage noticeable. Many punctuation mistakes. Frequent spelling errors.
PRESENTATION How does it look?	Web site is clearly identified; easy to find. The layout is clear and easy to follow. Backgrounds and text work well together. Graphical elements are used consistently. Multimedia adds to the main purpose.	Web site easy to fine. Layout of most pages is easy to follow. Backgrounds or text were not effective. Inconsistent or inappropriate graphics. Multimedia sometimes doesn't add to the purpose.	Web site hard to find. Layout is confusing or inappropriate. Backgrounds and text not effective. Graphics only decorative or confusing. Multimedia unrelated to the topic.

An information problem-solving process for searching the Internet.