Truncation (*)

To search for a term with a variety of possible endings, or a word that you are unsure of the spelling, use right truncation. The right truncation symbol in SUNLINK is the * (asterisk). Searches may be truncated anywhere after the first three (3) characters of the word.

For example:

• entering comput* in the Title search box will search and display all the titles that contain any word that begins with comput- including computer, computers, computerization, computerized, computing, computation, and so on.

  

• entering dino* in the Quick Search box will search and display all the titles with dinosaur or dinosaurs in the title, subject, or contents fields.

  

Wildcard (?)

If you want to search for materials about women or woman, you can use a shortcut. Use the embedded wildcard. Type wom?n, and you will retrieve materials with either term used. Embed the wildcard symbol anywhere after the third character of a search word.

If you know specific word order for a phrase you want to search, enclose the words in quotation marks.

For example:

• entering "guide dog" (in quotation marks) in the Title search box will retrieve titles just about guide dogs and not general guides to dogs.

  

Warning: Specific phrase searches cannot be used in the SUNLINK Quick Search box!