FAQs for Atomic Search
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      3. FAQs for Atomic Search

      What search operators can I use to conduct more complex searches?

      Identify what search operators can be used in Atomic Search and how to best use them.

      In addition to general search commands, Atomic Search allows for more complex searches using the following operators. Each of these operators performs a different function allowing you to broaden or narrow your search as needed. 

      Keyword

      • Operator: text
      • Example Search Term: strategy
      • Finds: Items that contain the word "strategy" or a variant
      • Example Search Results: “when looking at strategy”

      Exact match

      • Operator: “” Quotation marks
      • Example Search Term: “leadership characteristics”
      • Finds: Items that contain exactly the phrase “leadership characteristics”
      • Example Search Results:
        • Matches: “common leadership characteristics”
        • NOT a match: “common characteristics of leadership”

      Wildcard beginning

      • Operator: * (asterisk after a word or portion of a word)
      • Example Search Term: strat* 
      • Finds: Items that contain words that start with "strat"
      • Example Search Results: “strategic,” “stratagem,” and “stratification” 

      Wildcard ending

      • Operator: * (asterisk before a word or portion of a word)
      • Example Search Term: *ing
      • Finds: Items that contain words that end with “ing”
      • Example Search Results: “finding,” “asking,” and “ending”

      Wildcard middle

      • Operator: * (asterisk before and after a portion of a word)
      • Example Search Term: *issi*
      • Finds: Items that contain the letters “issi” in the middle of the word
      • Example Search Results: “pianissimo” and “fortissimo”

      AND

      • Operator: +
      • Example Search Term: technology + quiz
      • Finds: Items that contain both "technology" and "quiz" if they are present anywhere in the content
      • Example Search Results
        • Matches: "The technology quiz is due next Friday." 
        • NOT a match: "The technology module starts tomorrow."

      OR

      • Operator: |
      • Example Search Term: quiz | test
      • Finds: Items containing "quiz" or "test"
      • Example Search Results:
        • "The quiz is due next Monday." 
        • "I will test you on your knowledge this semester." 

      NOT

      • Operator: -
      • Example Search Term: geometry - rubric
      • Finds: Items containing "geometry" but not "rubric"
      • Example Search Results
        • Matches: “"geometry module"
        • NOT a match: "geometry assignment rubric"

      Hyperlink

      • Operator: url:
      • Example Search Term: url:youtube
      • Finds: Items that contain a YouTube url
      • Example Search Results: any youtube urls found within an item, e.g. “https://youtube.com/…”

      Slop

      • Operator: “phrase”~<integer>
        • “phrase”~2
        • “phrase”~3
      • Example Search Term: “Illustrated paintings”~2
      • Finds: Items that contain the phrase "Illustrated paintings" with a specified amount (2) of deviation. By changing the number in the search term, you can change how much your results can deviate from your specified phrase. 
      • Example Search Results
        • Matches: “illustrated over 100 paintings,” “illustrated ten paintings,” “illustrated paintings”
        • NOT a match: “illustrated over 100 new paintings”
          • This now deviates from the search phrase by 3 words, rather than 2, and will not show up in the results.