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Locating Resources on the Web
Tip #8 Use synonyms (and other NYMS) to focus your query more precisely.
Search engines retrieve documents by matching the terms in your search query with terms that appear in the documents they have indexed. This matching is a mechanical process: terms must match exactly. That means that you have to find exactly the same terms used by the author of the document to get a match.
If your first search query doesn't retrieve what you are looking for, consider using new terms (also called keywords) to describe the same concept. One way to do this is to use synonyms for one or more of the terms in your query.
One of the best ways to find such synonyms is to look in the search results returned by the first query. This is sometimes called scanning the snippets. You can also open and scan promising documents. When writing about their subjects, people often use synonyms that can provide clues for search queries. Another way to generate synonyms is to use a thesaurus. Also, some search engines will provide a list of terms related to your search query along with the results of your search.
Quick Tips for finding better search terms:
Look in the documents returned by your first search. Find the documents that apply to your search and find discipline specific terms (expert vocabulary used by the experts such as "stellar cartography" or "seismic hazards").
If your search results are too broad, use hyponyms (more specific terms such as Ford, Chevrolet, or Toyota).
If your search results are too specific, use hypernyms (more general or broad terms, such car, truck, or automobile).
Online Learning Module: SynonymsOnline Learning Module: Hyper- and Hypo- Nyms
Online Learning Module: Nyms: How Lesser Known Nyms Help You Improve a Search