1. Define your topic
2. Separate your topic into concepts:
3. Note possible synonyms for each concept
4. Use connectors (and, or, not, adjn)
5. Truncate terms for maximum retrieval
6. Devise a strategy using set numbers

Example:  Stress analysis of bridges and structures for earthquake resistance

• stress analysis
• bridges OR structures
• earthquakes
• resistance

• stress analysis or measurement
• bridges OR structures OR buildings
• earthquakes or seismic or tremors or aftershocks
• resistance or responsiveness

AND

This connector links words or phrases that must BOTH appear anywhere in the same record, no matter how close or how far apart.

Example: "steel AND concrete" finds BOTH the words "steel" and "concrete" anywhere in the same record.

By combining two or more sets using AND, a set will be created which contains only those records that the original sets had in common, e.g., "1 AND 2 AND 3."

OR

This connector links synonyms, alternate forms of expression, acronyms, etc.

Example: "sewage OR waste OR effluent" finds any of the words in the record.

By combining two or more sets using OR, a set will be created which contains all the documents in all the sets (with duplicates eliminated), e.g., "1 OR 2 OR 3."

ADJn

This connector links search words and phrases to create concepts. The n stands for a number from 1 to 99. It does NOT specify word order.

Example: gas adj3 chromatography finds the word gas within up to three words of the word chromatography -- gas and liquid chromatography

You may separate two terms by  inserting ADJ between them, but this is not necessary.   For example, the search "cat scan" is identical to the search "cat adj scan."

NOT

The NOT operator excludes terms so that the created set does not contain any terms that follow the NOT operator. Use the NOT operator with caution; you may eliminate some references on your search topic.

Example, type "bridge not (token-ring or dental)" to find results that contain the term "bridge" but not the terms"token-ring" or "dental".

By combining two or more sets using NOT, a set will be created which excludes all the records in all the sets following the NOT operator., e.g., "1 NOT ( 2 OR 3)."

At times, you might want to find more than just exact matches to a search term. For instance, you might want to find both the singular and plural forms of a word or variant spellings or word endings. Wildcards let you broaden your searches to match patterns.

Unlimited Truncation -- "$"

"$" one or more characters at the end of a word. Use it to get all forms of a word without having to enter each one separately.

Do not truncate 3-letter words:

Limited Truncation -- "$n"

Truncation can be used with any digit to specify the maximum number of characters that may follow the root word or phrase.

6.  Devise a Strategy using Set Numbers.  The main search page:

• lists the searches you have performed,
• assigns a number to each set, and
• indicates the number of records retrieved by each search.
• You can combine searches to form new sets. 

This saves you time by making it unnecessary to re-type long or complex search statements already posted to a set.