Search Basics

These search tips are a guide to the process of searching and using the FAST search engine to find the information you are looking for. The guide starts with an overview of searching and moves from simple searches using a single word or phrase to more complicated searches using many search terms. Use the many examples as an aid to formulating your own searches.

Quick Tips

Here are some quick tips to get you started (click the underlined words to learn more):

• Enter your search terms in lower case. The search engine will find both upper and lower case instances of your search term.

• Search for a question or concept by entering it as a question in natural language.

• Enclose terms and phrases in double quotation marks if you want the search engine to take them literally.

• If any specific word is vital to your search, indicate that by preceding it with a plus sign (+).

• Exclude pages that are not relevant to your search by preceding words with a minus sign (-).

• Search for terms within a field by using field name plus a colon (:), followed by the term.