Using Terms and Connectors
Connectors
Root Expander
Universal Character
Automatic Plurals and Equivalent Terms
Compound Words
Abbreviations
Common Words
Connectors
Use connectors to specify the relationships that must exist between the terms in your retrieved litigation documents.
Connector |
Symbol |
Retrieves |
| AND | & | Both search terms in the same document: narcotics & warrant |
| OR | (space) | Either search term or both terms: car automobile |
| Grammatical Connectors | /s | Search terms in the same sentence: design /s defect |
| /p | Search terms in the same paragraph: hearsay /p utterance |
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| +s | The first term preceding the second within the same sentence: palsgraf +s island |
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| Numerical Connectors | /n | Search terms within "n" terms of each other (where "n" is a number): person** /3 jurisdiction |
| +n | The first term preceding the second within "n" terms (where "n" is a number): 20 +5 1080 |
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| Phrase | " " | Search terms appearing in the same order as in the quotation marks: "attractive nuisance" |
| BUT NOT | % | Documents not containing the term or terms following the % symbol: r.i.c.o. % "puerto rico" |
Root Expander
To retrieve words with variant endings, type the root expander (!).
Type: |
To retrieve: |
| object! | object, objected, objection, objecting |
Universal Character
To represent one variable character, type the universal character (*).
Type: |
To retrieve: |
| jur** | jury, juror (but not jurisdiction) |
Automatic Plurals and Equivalent Terms
By default, searches retrieve plural forms and equivalent terms. To find the exact term you specify in the search, type the # symbol in front of the term.
Type: |
To retrieve: |
| #damage | damage (not damages) |
| #willful | willful (not wilful) |
For a list of equivalent terms for jurisdictions, see Equivalent Terms for Jurisdictions.
Compound Words
If your search term is a compound word, use its hyphenated form to retrieve all variations.
Type: |
To retrieve: |
| good-will | goodwill, good-will, good will |
Abbreviations
If your search term is an abbreviation, type it with periods and without spaces to retrieve all variations.
Type: |
To retrieve: |
| h.i.v. | H.I.V., H. I. V., HIV, H I V |
Common Words
These common words are not searched unless they are included in a phrase. You search for a phrase by placing it in quotation marks.
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about above after also although an and as at be because before between but by either for from further here |
however if in into mr now of on or other out over since such than that the then there |
therefore these this those through thus to under until upon what when where whether which while with within without |
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