For example, you can use:
AND
to require all terms to appear in the results (e.g., contract AND breach).OR
to include either term (e.g., attorney OR lawyer).NOT
to exclude terms (e.g., negligence NOT criminal)./s
to find terms within the same sentence (e.g., liability /s negligence)./p
to find terms within the same paragraph (e.g., damages /p punitive).Each database (Westlaw, Lexis+, Bloomberg Law, etc.) has unique terms and connectors. Make sure to review the specific rules for the database you are using to ensure accurate searches.
Using terms and connectors effectively can save you significant time and improve the precision of your legal research. Practicing with sample queries and testing different connectors will help you become more comfortable with this method.
For detailed instructions and examples, refer to the database-specific tabs at left or the overview document below.