Truncation is a search technique used in databases that involves replacing the ending of a word with a symbol. This symbol, usually an asterisk (*), tells the database to search for all forms of the word. Wilds are another type of symbol used to represent any character. Truncation is beneficial because it allows you to simultaneously search for different forms of a word, increasing the number of results found.
Different databases use different truncation symbols, so it is important to check the information in the database “Help” or “Search Tips” for details on which symbol to use. Using truncation will help you complete your search faster, as you won't have to manually type and search every variation of the word. It is especially useful when you know that one of your search terms has multiple endings, but all variations represent basically the same idea.
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