When you want a group of words to "hang out together" you can put quotes around them. Let's say you are interested in 'natural disasters' but you don't want to see tons of documents on the word natural or a million other pages that contain just the word disasters. You want information related specifically to 'natural disasters.' That's easy! Simply type this for your search statement:

'natural disasters'

Let's try this search with NC WiseOwl. Quick tip: Print these directions before you link to the site.

(If you are asked for a password, type: wiseowl.)

1. Click ENCYCLOPEDIAS on the NC WiseOwl home page.
2. Click the OPEN button underneath Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia.
3. Find the search box, and then click on the button labeled ADVANCED. You're going to do an advanced search using Boolean logic!
4. Make sure FULL TEXT SEARCH is selected. You want to search through entire articles, not the "article titles only."
5. Type this in the search box using single quotes,* not double quotes: 'natural disasters'
6. How many documents did Grolier find for you?
7. Now you are going to switch to a search engine that uses double quotes. Link to NC WiseOwl again, and select Magazine Database.
8. Proceed, and then click General Reference Center Gold.
9. IMPORTANT: Look in the left column and select Keyword Search.
10. Click in the entry box and type “natural disaster” using double quotes. Press the SEARCH button.
11. Read a few of the titles containing the search phrase “natural disaster” and compare this search to the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia search. Which search gave factual information to help you learn more about ‘natural disasters?’ Which search delivered current events related to “natural disasters?”

*Most search engines use double quotes. However, the search engine for this multimedia encyclopedia only recognizes single quotes. It is always helpful to read the "Search Tips" for  any new search engine you might try.