Truncation is a powerful search technique used in databases to help you find all the variations of a word. By adding a symbol to the end of the root of a word, you can tell the database to search for all forms of that word. The most commonly used symbol for truncation is the asterisk (*). However, different databases may use different symbols, so it's important to check the information in the database “Help” or “Search Tips” for details on which symbol to use.
Truncation is an incredibly useful tool when you know that one of your search terms has multiple endings, but all variations represent basically the same idea. By using truncation, you can simultaneously search for different forms of a word and increase the number of search results found. This will help you complete your search faster, as you won't have to manually type and search every variation of the word. When using truncation, it's important to remember that some databases may have limitations on how many characters can be used in a truncated search. For example, some databases may only allow up to three characters after the truncation symbol.
Additionally, some databases may not allow you to use certain symbols in your search string. It's important to check the database “Help” or “Search Tips” for details on which symbols are allowed. Truncation is an incredibly useful tool for quickly finding all variations of a word in a database. By understanding which symbols are used in truncation searches and how they work, you can save time and get more accurate results from your searches.
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