Guide
Home >> Truncation
and Wildcards
What
is Truncation?
Truncation,
also called stemming, is a technique that allows you to search
for various word endings and spellings simultaneously.
To
use truncation enter the root of a word and put the truncation
symbol at the end. The database will return results that include
any ending of that root word.
Examples:
child* = child, childs, children, childrens, childhood
genetic* = genetic, genetics, genetically
Truncation
symbols may vary by database, the most common truncation symbols
are the *, !, ?, or #.
Look
at the database Help screens to find out which symbol to use.
What
are Wildcards?
Similar to truncation, wildcards substitute a symbol for one letter
of a word. This is useful if the word is spelled in different
ways, but still has the same meaning.
Examples:
wom!n = woman, women
colo?r = color, colour
If
you have questions about applying this technique to your search,
Ask Us!
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