Build the Search - Database Searching - Health - Library Guides at Emory & Henry University

Understanding AND/OR in a search

"Venn Diagram for Boolean Operator OR" by ramaxeymiles is licensed under CC BY 2.0

"Venn Diagram for Boolean Operator AND" by ramaxeymiles is licensed under CC BY 2.0

OR	AND
Searches for each term separately	Searches for all terms in a single article
Expands the search	Narrows the search
More results	Fewer results
Used between synonyms	Used between concept groups
Surround each group with ( )	No special punctuation

For Example:

(seniors OR senior OR elderly OR elder OR aged OR old OR older)

AND

("covid 19" OR covid-19 OR coronavirus OR "sars cov 2" OR sars-cov-2 OR "severe acute respiratory syndrome")

AND

("mental health" OR anxiety OR anxieties OR depression OR depressive OR stress OR stresses OR stressing OR lonely OR loneliness OR isolate OR isolated OR isolation)

* note that each grouping of OR words is enclosed in (parentheses)

** note that phrases are enclosed in "quotation marks"

Database Searching - Health: Build the Search

Understanding AND/OR in a search

OR

AND

Searches for each term separately

Searches for all terms in a single article

Expands the search

Narrows the search

More results

Fewer results

Used between synonyms

Used between concept groups

Surround each group with ( )

No special punctuation

For Example:

If we insert more terms in each OR grouping, we will get more results.

If we add another concept, like a gender or ethnicity, we will get fewer results.