Use quotes to search for an exact word or phrase
"antique fishing lures"
This function searches an exact text string. Putting quotes around a single word search eliminates results containing word variations.
Exclude a word
-metal
Placing a minus sign in front of a word or quoted phrase excludes search results containing that word or phrase. Multiple words or phrases can be excluded in a given search.
Search within a specific website or domain
site:colgate.edu or site:.colgate.edu or site:.edu
This operator placed directly in front and adjacent to a website name or domain (starts with a period) limits a search to that particular website or domain.
Proximity Searching
Colgate AROUND(4) Harvard
Retrieves web pages containing search terms within the proximity of a given number of words. AROUND must be in capitals.
Search for pages that link to a specific URL
link:exlibris.colgate.edu
This operator retrieves pages that link to the site specified.
Search for words in the title of a web page
intitle:cosmic intitle:debris
Retrieves pages that contain the words cosmic and debris in the title of the page.
Search for words in the text of a web page
intext:josephen intext:ratchet
Retrieves pages that contain the words Josephen and ratchet in the text of the page.
Search for alternate words
squirrel OR crayfish
Use a capitalized OR between words and/or phrases to allow for ambiguity of search terms in a query.
Fill in the blank
If * stop then * go or "stand straight" and * then *
An asterisk serves as a placeholder for any unknown or wildcard terms. Find variations an exact phrase when used with quotation marks or to retrieve different words in the middle of a phrase. The asterisk will retrieve both single words and phrases.
Search for a number range
tuition $25000..$45000
Numbers separated by two periods without spaces (..) yields results that contain numbers in a given range of things like dates, prices, and measurements.
Colgate University Libraries | 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346 | 315-228-7300