These search tips can help you to find more relevant results in Primo Search and many other library databases. If these tips don't work in the database you are using check their help section for their set of symbols.
| Search Operator | Example |
| Use AND to retrieve results that contain both of your search terms. | public relations AND function |
| Use OR to retrieve results that contain any or all of your search terms. | purpose OR outcomes |
| Using NOT to exclude irrelevant results. | media NOT social |
| Combine terms with parentheses to create complex searches. | (public relations OR marketing) AND function |
| Use quotation marks to search for a phrase | "public relations" |
| Search for terms with different word endings using an asterisk. | relat* = relate, relationship, relations |
| A question mark can be used to replace a single letter within a word. | organi?e = organise, organize |
Field searching and limiters
Most databases will allow you to specify which field you want to search. Common fields include author, title, dates, and subject headings/topic, and these are usually available in both basic and advanced search.
Once you've searched, you can also limit your results by some of these fields. This is extremely useful if you want all of your articles to have been published within a certain date range, or for them all to be peer-reviewed. Look for these in the menus beside your search results.
Try combining some of your keywords using some common search tips.
Charles Sturt University acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, paying respect to Elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.
Charles Sturt University is an Australian University, TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018. CRICOS Provider: 00005F.
