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Search Databases Like a Pro: Search using Truncation and Wildcards

Truncation and Wildcard Symbols

Techniques that broadens your search to include various word endings and spellings.

Truncation

  • Aterisk (*) for searching word stems
  • example: allerg* returns allergic, allergies, etc...
  • genetic* returns genetic, genetics, genetically
  • child* returns child, childs, children

Wild cards

  • Question Mark (?) for replacing one letter in a word
  • example: m?n returns man and men
  • col?r returns color and colour

Lisle

Kindlon Hall
5700 College Rd.
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 829-6050

Mesa

Gillett Hall
225 E. Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85201
(480) 878-7514