Search Tips
- Phrase Searching
- If using more than one word in your search setup, make sure to use parenthesis around the specific phrase you are looking for.
- Ex: "horror movies", "classic films", etc.
- Boolean Operators
- Using "AND" and "OR"
- When using "AND" in your search, it will make sure that your search results include both search terms or phrases used.
- For example:
- "horror movies" AND "classics" - will generate results that include these words in the publication
- For example:
- When using "OR" it will expand your search results to include search terms that are similar to one another.
- For example:
- "films" OR "movies" - these two terms are interchangeable, therefore, depending on the author of a publication either or may be used. Including both in your search setup will ensure that you are generating results that include both variations.
- For example:
- Truncation
- Used when you want to make sure different variations of the same word will appear in your search results.
- film* - films, filming
- cinem* - cinema, cinematography
- direct* - director, directors
- haunt* - haunted, haunting
- Used when you want to make sure different variations of the same word will appear in your search results.
APA Reference Guides
A dedicated resource specializing in APA writing, this website is a comprehensive guide for citations, references, formatting, and more. It offers free pdf activity sheets for students to practice this style of writing. While it does not offer a free online version of the 7th edition manual, most of the information can be found on their website with clear and instructional examples. A valuable resource for anyone needing extra guidance on how to write an APA style paper. Available by clicking the link above.
Purdue Owl offers similar features as APA Style Guide. However, it also includes other styles of writing. The information is organized by the different aspects of an APA paper, with examples, tips, and exceptions. A notable difference from the first guide, is its citation feature. This website is able to create a citation for multiple types (i.e., websites, books, journal articles, and online media) using minimal information. While this is a very useful feature, users must still review the citation created for any discrepancies and inconsistencies.