Search Syntax:
More Operators


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     Here are the most common operators supported by our search engine, what they do and the results of using them.

Operator

How it works

Example

DEFAULT OPERATOR

when no operator is specified, ADJ is assumed

emotional distress damages; will find that exact phrase in the document; also used to search for a case by its citation – 123 P.2d 456

adj

proximity operator, immediate

anticipatory adj breach will find documents where the word anticipatory is immediately adjacent to the word breach
Note: if no operator is specified, ADJ is assumed

and

finds both query terms

ethics and violation will find documents containing both ethics and violation

or

finds either query term

suspend or disbar will find documents containing either the term suspend or the term disbar

not

finds first query term then excludes documents that also contain second query term

malpractice not medical will find documents containing malpractice but do not contain the word medical

near/n

proximity operator, bi-directional within number of words specified on either side

implied near/5 relationship will find documents where the word implied is within five words of the word relationship, e.g., relationship between them implied close friendship; facts implied a close relationship

w/n

proximity operator, finds query term within specified number of words of another query term

reckless w/5 misrepresentation will find documents where the word misrepresentation appears no more than five words after the word reckless, e.g., reckless in his misrepresentation of the facts

?

wildcard; single character

a?e will find ace, age, ale, ape, ate, awe; wom?n will find woman, women

*

wildcard; any string of characters

jud*ment will find judgment, judgement; negligen* will find negligent, negligence, negligently

( )

scope delimiters, used to group alternate search terms

(accountant or auditor) and (fraud or reckless or negligent)