Help : Research Tools : CU Library Catalog : Basic Search :

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Relevance Keyword Searches

A Relevance Keyword search finds words, phrases or names anywhere in a catalog record and then ranks the results. This type of search has features similar to those of an Internet search engine.  

The order in which results are retrieved in a Relevance Keyword search is determined by a relevance algorithm. Relevance ranking is used by many Internet search engines (AltaVista, Lycos, etc.), though each formula for determining relevance is a little different. The factors that affect the relevance ranking in the Cornell Library Catalog are:

• Uniqueness of search terms within the database
• Proximity of search terms to each other within the bibliographic record
• Proportion of search terms present in a bibliographic record
• Fields (subject heading, author, title) in which the search terms occur. Some of the fields, such as subject, carry extra weight.

See the Search Type Comparison chart for an overview of all of the CU Library Catalog searches.

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To Perform a Relevance Keyword Search:

1.    If desired, set Search Limits. 

Search Limits may be set before or after your search to restrict by year, language, item type, medium, location, and/or publication status. Search limits will remain valid for all Title and Keyword searches until you clear them.

2.    Click Relevance Keyword in the Search by: box.

3.    In the Search for: box, type the search words or phrase. 
• Use quotation marks (" ") to search phrases: "war of the worlds"
• Use a question mark (?) with partial words to find variant endings: entrepr? finds entrepreneur, entrepreneurial

4.    Use special punctuation symbols to combine search terms, NOT Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).

• Use a plus sign (+) before words that MUST be in the record: +hurricanes +gulf
• Use an exclamation point (!) before words that must NOT appear: pets !cats
5.    If desired, choose a Quick Limit.

6.    Choose the number of records to display per page.

7.    Click Search.

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Search Tips:

• Words or phrases can be entered in any order.
• Using more words or phrases will increase the precision of your search.
• All words will be searched, including and, or, not, the, a, la, das, etc. There are no stop words.

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Interpreting your Search Results and Displays