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How To - Search JSTOR: Using the Basic Search

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Quick Tips

The Basic Search form appears on the main page of www.jstor.org and also at the top of most content pages on the site. You can type any search terms into the Basic Search box and JSTOR will search for those terms across all of the content licensed or purchased by the library.

Here are a few things you can do to easily improve your search results:

  • Place words within quotation marks to search for exact phrases (“to be or not to be”).
  • Use Boolean operators to search for alternate terms (microcredit OR microfinance).
  • Use ti: to search for the title of an article or book (ti:"body ritual among the nacirema")

While we call the simple search form a "Basic Search," you can perform fairly complex queries with it using special codes and Boolean operators. These options are explained in more detail below.