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Hi Lynne, Thanks for clarifying both this and the magnified search strings. Interestingly google automatically brackets the OR terms which can add to the confusion when introducing Boolean searching on other databases to new users. Incidentally does everyone know about using OR in phrases in google to get alternative words in a phrase? This string searches for 9 possible 2 word combinations: “throat OR oesophageal OR esophageal cancer OR neoplasms OR carcinoma” . In effect it searches for : (throat OR oesophageal OR esophageal) NEXT ( cancer OR neoplasms OR carcinoma). The only snag being that , ( I think in most cases) in phrases google won’t do automatic plurals. So for completion you would need to enter “throat OR oesophageal OR esophageal cancer OR cancers OR neoplasm OR neoplasms OR carcinoma OR carcinomas”. It saves a lot of repetition of common words in similar phrases Click to see this on google<http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&q=%E2%80%9Cthroat+OR+oesophageal+OR+esophageal+cancer+OR+cancers+OR+neoplasm+OR+neoplasms+OR+carcinoma+OR+carcinomas%E2%80%9D.&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=> Or cut and paste this http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=100&hl=en&safe=off&q=%E2%80%9Cthroat+OR+oesophageal+OR+esophageal+cancer+OR+cancers+OR+neoplasm+OR+neoplasms+OR+carcinoma+OR+carcinomas%E2%80%9D.&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= This approach is good to narrow your search down to specifics if you are getting a lot of irrelevant stuff. However it is always worth trying a less sophisticated search first , to make full use of google’s inherent mapping. Best wishes David Newman Library Information Skills Trainer Exeter Health Library Peninsula Medical School Building Barrack Road Exeter EX2 5DW Tel: 01392 406727 Fax 01392 406728 See http://www.services.ex.ac.uk/eml/ehltraining.html for information on our FREE training programme training information. ________________________________ From: Nurcombe Lynne (5N6) Derbyshire County PCT [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 17 May 2010 14:12 Subject: use of brackets on NHS Evidence I thought others might like to read the answer I had to a query about the use of brackets on NHS Evidence (I suspected they should be used). NHS Evidence answered my query promptly and hopefully they will include this information in the search tips on the site. I also highlighted the inadequacy of the current search line. Their response… Without brackets, the system will prioritise the AND search. A search without brackets, such as "ropinirole or pramipexole and Parkinson’s" is equivalent to a search which places brackets around the AND terms, such as "ropinirole or (pramipexole and Parkinson’s)". Both searches retrieve the same 165 results. For the results you want, you'll need to search on "(ropinirole or pramipexole) and Parkinson’s". I do see what you mean about a long search string disappearing behind the magnifying glass, and I have passed this onto our Service Development Manager. Regards, Lynne Nurcombe Knowledge Manager Knowledge Services Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust Babington Hospital Derby Road Belper DE56 1WH Tel. 01773 525059 Fax. 01773 525006 DISCLAIMER - This email and any file transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent the views of Derbyshire County PCT, unless otherwise explicitly stated. The information contained in this email may be subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentiality of this email cannot be guaranteed. Derbyshire County PCT is an NHS Organisation.