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

Truncation allows you to find different words that share the some of the same letters.

There are two main types of truncation

• Stem Truncation or Root Expansion
  • coast* finds coast, coasts, coastal, coast-guard, coasting, coastward
• Wildcard or Single-Letter Replacement
  • advi?e finds advice, advise

Unfortunately, the symbols used for truncation vary between databases. It is important to use the correct symbol, or you will get poor results.

For example, for Lexis and Westlaw, the equivalent truncation would be:

• Stem Truncation: coast!
• Wildcard: advi*e

• Quick guide to search operators in selected databases

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