Truncation is a search technique used in databases to increase the number of search results found. It involves adding a symbol to the end of the root of a word to tell the database to search for all forms of a word. The asterisk (*) is the most commonly used symbol for truncation. A wildcard (or universal character) is a symbol that is used instead of a character, no character, or a group of characters.
Wildcards are usually used in the middle or end of words, not usually at the beginning. Different databases use different truncation symbols, so it is important to check the information in the database “Help” or “Search Tips” section for details on which symbol to use. Truncation and wildcard symbols can be used anywhere in the search term, except as the first character. Note that different databases and search engines have different rules and symbols for truncation, wilds, etc. As an expert in SEO, I recommend using truncation and wildcard symbols to find variations in the spelling and endings of variant words.
This will help you get more accurate search results and save time when searching databases. It is important to remember that different databases have different rules and symbols for truncation, wilds, etc., so always refer to the “Help” section of the database you are using for more information.
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