Title: Generating Keywords
Course: Library - Library Sandbox > Section: Ontario Tech Library Online: Advanced Searching for Research Articles

Keywords are words that you enter into a search box that hold the essence, or the key idea, of what you are trying to find. Keywords are words with the most meaning. Using relevant keywords in your search will lead you to better information. If you are searching for an assignment, you can identify the first keywords from the topic itself.

Topic example: Why do some Canadians choose to purchase electric cars?

Keywords: reasons, Canadians, purchase, electric cars

Remember to do more than one search, using different keywords that describe your topic. It can take a few searches before you find the resources you need for your assignment.

Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same, or similar meaning as the main keywords. Synonyms and keywords are interchangeable, which means that the meaning of your search will remain the same.
Here are a few synonyms for the topic: Why do some Canadians choose to purchase electric cars?

- reasons = decisions
- Canadians = Canadian people, Canadian drivers
- purchase = buy, acquire
- electric cars = hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, hybrid cars

Related Terms

Related terms are words that generally mean the same thing as the main keywords. For example: tablet - device, car - vehicle, pop - carbonated drink. While related terms don’t mean exactly the same thing as the words they are replacing, they are an excellent tool for broadening the scope of your search.
Here are a few related terms for the topic: Why do some Canadians choose to purchase electric cars?

- reasons = incentives, preferences
- Canadians = Ontario drivers, drivers, motor vehicle operators
- purchase = lease, rent
- electric cars = driverless cars, environmentally friendly vehicles

Ontario Tech University Library
Except where otherwise noted, the content on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License