How do search operators like truncation expand your search results?

Take the Information Literacy Test to excel in assessing, evaluating, and applying information effectively. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with comprehensive explanations. Prepare for success!

Truncation expands your search by applying a wildcard to a word stem, so you retrieve multiple word forms from one entry. For example, comput* will match computer, computers, computing, computation, and more. This saves you from guessing every possible ending and helps you include variations in tense, plurality, or related forms. It also works across many databases and search engines, not just library catalogs, though the exact symbols can vary. The core idea is that truncation broadens results by letting the system fill in endings, rather than limiting you to a single form. Using a root plus a wildcard is how truncation broadens your search.