FirstSearch:  An Online Introduction

Advanced Searching:  Exact Phrases vs. Keywords

With Advanced Searching you can search Keyword Indexes or Exact Phrase Indexes.

Some Indexes are Keyword Indexes and some are Exact Phrase Indexes.  
For example, here's the list of Indexes you find in an Advanced Search in the WorldCat database.

It's good to know the difference between Keyword and Exact Phrase Indexes.

• Keyword Indexes are flexible.
  When you Search a Keyword Index, FirstSearch will search the Index for your word or words in any order.
  For example, if a Record has 3 Subject Headings, searching the Subject Headings Keyword Index for 2 words will find that Record even if the words appear in different Subject Headings.

• Exact Phrase Indexes are not flexible--they are very exact and specific.
  With an Exact Phrase Index FirstSearch searches the Index for the exact phrase you entered in the order you typed it.
  For example, searching the Subject Headings Exact Index will retrieve only Records that have the exact Subject Heading you typed.

Examples from WorldCat:

• If we search "Virginia horses" in the "Subject Hdgs (keyword)" Index

we retrieve 110 Records because those Records have the words Virginia and horses somewhere in their Subject Headings. 

• But if we search "Virginia horses" in the "Subject Hdgs (exact phrase) Index

we retrieve no Records because the phrase "Virginia horses" is not an exact Subject Heading.

Hints for Advanced Searching

• Try the Keyword Indexes first.

• If you Search an Exact Phrase Index try Browsing the Index first. 
  Remember, Browsing the Index lets you see if your term or phrase appears in the Index. 
  To go back to the lesson on Browsing Indexes, click here.

This completes the Introduction to FirstSearch.
You may want to continue to a page of Practice Exercises

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