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Master Boolean operators and advanced search syntax for academic databases
Passed 20 of 22 test cases with the skill, and 19 of 22 without it.
and 1 more in the full report
2 fixed18 passed either way1 still failing1 broke
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
One of 2 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
Provide a search term using a wildcard to match both 'woman' and 'women' simultaneously in standard database syntax.
| Checked | Without skill | With skill |
|---|---|---|
| The term is written as wom?n | Missed | Passed |
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
A skill for constructing precise, reproducible search queries using Boolean operators across major academic databases. Covers AND, OR, NOT logic, proximity operators, truncation, field codes, and strategies for building systematic search strings.
AND — Narrows results. Both terms must appear.
"machine learning" AND "drug discovery"
OR — Broadens results. Either term may appear.
"deep learning" OR "neural network"
NOT — Excludes results. Removes records containing the term.
cancer NOT "lung cancer"
() — Groups terms to control evaluation order.
(COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2) AND (vaccine OR vaccination)
Databases evaluate Boolean expressions in this order unless parentheses override:
Always use parentheses to make your intent explicit:
# Ambiguous (results depend on database precedence):
sleep disorders OR insomnia AND cognitive performance
# Clear (intended meaning explicit):
(sleep disorders OR insomnia) AND cognitive performance
test cases passed, vs 19 / 22 without
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