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FAQ
IndexCat -- Truncation

Question:  How do I truncate search terms, indicate importance or search for a phrase?

Answer:

To truncate words, indicate word importance or a phrase, apply the following characters:

  • Use a question mark (?) after a search term to indicate truncation: child? (finds child, children, childhood, etc.)
  • Use quotation marks to search for specific phrases: "by localities"
  • Use a plus sign (+) before a terms to indicate an essential term: +leukemia
  • Use an asterisk (*) before a term to indicate an important item: *treatment
  • Use an exclamation point (!) before a term to indicate that records containing the term are not to be displayed: !childish

Tip: Some stems for truncations: case? biog? obit?

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http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/ictruncation.html