When you search Google, do you find yourself typing long questions or phrases? Many people do! Phrase and question searching work well in search engines like Google.

Library databases are different from search engines, and they don’t do well with long questions or phrases. Instead, our databases work best with just a few search terms at a time. Search terms are words and phrases that relate to your chosen topic.  

One of the easiest ways to identify search terms is to make a list of the main words that relate to your topic, then add synonyms, concepts, people, and events that are relevant to your topic.

Nouns usually make great search terms, but be careful of descriptors like “good,” “bad,” “worst,” and “best.” Scholarly sources often don’t use these terms, and they can make your search too vague or biased.

As you search, you can try these words in different combinations to find more information about your topic.

Let’s Try It!

Brainstorming Search Terms