To conduct a comprehensive OVID search covering all forms of a word (including plurals, British spellings, etc.) you can enter each word variation as a single search statement then combine them all using the Boolean OR. This month's Ovid Search Tip looks at Truncation, an advanced technique that allows you to search for multiple forms of a word using a single search statement.

According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, to truncate is "to shorten by or as if by cutting off". * Truncation, in library vernacular, is the shortening of words using "wild cards" to represent variable characters. If used with caution, this technique can enhance the efficiency of your searching.

OVID recognizes the following wild card characters: #, ? $. See the following explanations of the difference in their functionality.

1. # (Pound Sign): substitutes for one (and only one) character
   Example: typing wom#n will retrieve "woman" or "women."

Note: Truncation only works when the "Map Term to Subject Heading" default is disabled (i.e., click box to uncheck). If the box remains checked your search will generate an error message.

2. ? (Question Mark): substitutes for one character (or none)
   This wild card character is particularly useful for British/American word variants, since it specifies that you want retrieval whether an extra character is there or not.
   Example: typing colo?r will retrieve both "color" and "colour"

   Note: You may not use the ? if there is only one letter preceding the truncation. For example, f?etal will retrieve an error message.

   
   
3. $ (Dollar Sign): used with any digit to specify the maximum number of characters that may follow the "root" word
   Example: typing hospital$1 will retrieve both "hospital" or "hospitals."

   Note: You would also get the same result by typing hospital?

   
   The $ may also be used without a digit for "unlimited" truncation, but this should be used with caution since you may retrieve many more (and less relevant) words.
   Example: typing rat$ will retrieve "rat", "rats", "rate", "ration", "ratify", etc.

• Question? Call the reference desk at 215-503-8150 or email at Askalibrarian@jefferson.edu
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