 | the Boolean operator OR |
 The Boolean operator
OR is used to broaden your search.
Let's say that you decide to shop for either an 'NSync or an Enya CD,
and you want information on both of them. |
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 Let me guess--I'd type 'NSync OR
Enya in the search box of the search engine. |
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 You're catching on, Wendi. Very good!
OR is also helpful if you have a word that can be spelled two ways, like
theater OR theatre. |
|
 But,
Will, how does using OR broaden my search? |
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| Since you're searching for 'NSync OR Enya, you'll get web
pages with the word 'NSync, pages with the word Enya, and pages with
both 'NSync and Enya. |
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| Wow! That's a lot of web pages! |
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| Exactly.
Now you see how OR broadens your search
and gives you more hits. This Venn diagram illustrates it well.
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| Not
so fast! First you need to do Activity #3 in your packet. Then come back
here for one more lesson--Lesson 6. |
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Notice
that both the 'NSync and Enya circles are colored, as well as the OR
intersecting part. 'NSync OR Enya
will give you web pages with the word 'NSync, pages with the word Enya,
and pages with both 'NSync and Enya.