Advanced Keyword Search Syntax

  • Search for exact strings of words
    • Syntax: Use “” around the sequence of words to search for exact strings
      • Returns all paragraphs that contain the exact sequence of words
      • Example: “medical device data system”
  • Search for keywords with logical Conditions: AND, OR, NOT
    • AND syntax: word1 AND word2 AND word3…
      • Returns results that contain all search words
      • Example: medical AND device AND data AND systems
    • OR syntax: word1 OR word2 OR word3…
      • Returns results that contain any search words
      • Example: medical OR device OR data OR systems
    • – syntax: -word1
      • Returns results that do not contain word1
      • Example: medical -device
    • Use () to form compound logical conditions
      • Example: medical AND (device OR data)
        • Returns results that contain medical and device, or medical and data.
  • Wild cards
    • Use ? to specify one wild letter
      • Example: device?
      • Returns paragraphs containing device or devices
    • Use * to specify any number of letters
      • Example: system*
      • Returns results that contain system, systems, systematic, systematically…
  • Complex queries can combine strings, logical conditions and wild cards
    • Example: medical* and (device? or data)