Key Ideas > Truncation > Phrases > Boolean Logic > Subjects/Descriptors > Review and Refine > Limiting > Citation Indexes

Databases do not think in complete sentences. To get the best results, it is important to break your topic up into its key ideas.

• 2-3 key ideas at a time usually works best
  • (1) sustainable development as it applies to the (2) oceans
• Try to think of different keywords used for the same idea
  1. sustainable development, sustainability
  2. oceans, seas, marine, maritime, coastal, coasts, fisheries, oil, gas