Advanced Search Options - Combining Searches (#16)

Many of our databases allow you to use advanced searching techniques to combine searches. This way you can build up the searches for your keywords using OR and then combine the different concepts using AND and NOT.

Graphic listing several concepts leading to one set of results

For example:

• Your first search for your first concept may include all your different keywords and phrases for kidney disease, using OR to combine them.
• Your next search might be for your second concept hypertension – you’ll need to identify all the relevant terms for hypertension and combine them using OR.
• You can then combine both these concepts using AND for example as search1 AND search2.

You can learn more about how to combine searches by completing our etutorial Develop Your Search Skills