Using the BOOLEAN search method

The BOOLEAN search method allows you to type search expressions using the Boolean connectors AND, OR, and NOT and the proximity connectors w/n, f/n, and p/n. These connectors indicate the relationship that two or more terms in the search expression must have in a document in order for the document to be selected. You simply type your terms using the connectors between your terms. Here is what each connector will retrieve:

AND – Placing the word AND between terms will retrieve documents that contain both of the terms. For example, gasoline and oil will retrieve documents that contain gasoline and oil.

OR – Placing the word OR between terms will retrieve documents that contain either or both of the terms. This is useful for entering synonyms or alternative terms like child or dependent. For example, gasoline or oil will retrieve documents that contain either term or both terms.

NOT – Placing the word NOT between terms will retrieve documents that contain the first terms only if the second term does not appear. This connector is useful when your keyword often appears in a context that is irrelevant to your research. For example, if you want to find documents concerning RICO litigation, the search expression RICO not Puerto will exclude documents in which RICO occurs as a part of Puerto Rico.

W/n – Placing w/n between terms will retrieve documents in which the first term appears within the specified number of words as the second term (where n equals the number of words between terms). For example, gasoline w/25 oil will retrieve documents that contain the words gasoline and oil when they appear within 25 words of each other. Note: The value of n cannot exceed 127 words.

F/n – Placing f/n between terms will retrieve documents in which the first term follows the second term by no more than n words. For example, credit f/2 foreign will retrieve documents containing foreign n n credit.

P/n – Placing p/n between terms will retrieve documents in which the first term precedes the second term by no more than n words. For example, foreign p/2 credit will retrieve documents containing foreign n n credit.

W/sen – Placing w/sen between terms will retrieve documents that contain the first terms within 20 words of the second terms. For example, gasoline station w/sen oil refinery will retrieve gasoline station within 20 words of oil refinery.

W/par – Placing w/par between terms will retrieve documents that contain the first terms within 80 words of the second terms. For example, gasoline station w/par oil refinery will retrieve gasoline station within 80 words of oil refinery.