ACM Digital Library

It is possible to edit the syntax of your search, which can allow you to utilise Boolean searching in a more flexible way, for example to search multiple fields in one search string.

• To edit, click on the Edit Search button next to the number of results on the Search Results page. 
• This takes you back to the search interface page. Scroll down to the View Query Syntax section and click on the down arrow to expand the section. 
• Click in the Edit Query box and you can edit the search, for example changing AND to OR. 

This video shows you how you can combine searching the title and abstract fields for the same terms within the same search string.

The search operators AND and OR are used in searching to combine search terms together.

AND retrieves articles which contain all of your concepts. For example, if you are interested in the use of cognitive behaviour therapy for gambling disorders, you would search for cognitive behaviour therapy AND gambling.

OR retrieves records which contain any of your concepts. For example, you might search for cognitive behaviour therapy OR CBT to retrieve all articles on the topic.