Searching databases can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to understanding the different symbols used for truncation and wildcards. Truncation is a search technique used in databases in which the end of a word is replaced by a symbol. This symbol tells the database to search for all forms of a word. The most commonly used truncation symbol is the asterisk (*).
It is used in many databases to improve the search string. However, different databases use different truncation symbols, so it's important to check the “Help” information or “Search Tips” in the database for details on which symbol to use. Wildcards are also used in various databases, such as EBSCOhost and ProQuest, to improve the search string. Different databases use different wildcard symbols, so it's important to check the information in the “Help” or “Search Tips” database for details on which symbol to use.
Note that different databases and search engines have different rules and symbols for truncation, wildcards, etc. Truncation and wildcard symbols can be used anywhere in the search term, except as the first character. In Ovid databases, you can use truncation and wildcard symbols to find variations in the spelling and endings of words. Truncation is an effective way to broaden your search results and find more relevant information. It is important to remember that different databases use different truncation symbols, so it's important to check the “Help” information or “Search Tips” in the database for details on which symbol to use.
With a little practice and understanding of how truncation works, you can become an expert at searching databases.
