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WESTLAW Booleanconnectors

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9 views

WESTLAW Booleanconnectors

Uploaded by

tangledfictions
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Westlaw

Quick Reference Card


Using Boolean Connectors & Expanders
Westlaw users can structure their search using Boolean connectors and expanders. These
connectors and expanders may be used in lieu of The Results must contain options on the Custom
Search Template or on the Terms and Connectors Search page.

When using Boolean logic, formulate your query by using search terms significant to your issue
and decide which connectors/expanders to place between your terms. Search on the main issue
only and then refine your search by using Locate in Result.

Connectors
You may use the following Boolean connectors in your query:

Use: To retrieve documents containing:


a space (or) any of these terms. This is the default connector.
Example: car automobile
& (and) all search terms.
Example: narcotics & warrant
“ ” (phrase) terms in this exact order.
Example: “attractive nuisance”
+n the first search term preceding the second by n terms (where n is a
number)
Example: justice +3 McLachlin
/n search terms within n terms of each other (where n is a number).
Example: support /3 payment
+s the first term preceding the second within the same sentence.
Example: palsgraf +s island
/s search terms in the same sentence.
Example: design /s defect
+p the first term preceding the second within the same paragraph.
Example: appeal +p held
/p search terms in the same paragraph.
Example: hearsay /p utterance

Use: To exclude documents containing


% (but not) search terms following the percent symbol.
Example: (support /3 payment % spousal)
Expanders
Use these special characters to retrieve variations of your search terms:

Character Enter: To retrieve:


Root Expander (!) negligen! negligent, negligence,
negligently
Universal Character (*) gr*w grow, grew
(each * represents one character only) jur** jury, juror

Turning off Plurals and Equivalents (#) #perm perm (does not retrieve
permanent)

Order of Processing
Connectors are processed in the following order:
“ ” (phrase), space (or), +n, /n, +s, /s, +p, /p, &, %
Parentheses can be used to change the order of the search.

A Note about Word Forms


When choosing search terms consider the various forms they might take. Please see the following
chart for more information.

Enter: To Retrieve:
Plurals – Enter the singular form to automatically computer computer, computers
retrieve the plural form as well. If you enter the woman woman, women
plural form, only the plural is retrieved. memorandum memorandum, memorandums,
memoranda, memo, memos
Possessives – Enter the non‐possessive form to customer customer, customers,
automatically retrieve the singular and plural customer’s, customers’
possessive forms as well. If you enter a possessive
form, only that possessive form is retrieved.

Compound Terms – Enter the hyphenated form to good‐will good‐will, good will, goodwill
retrieve all forms. If you do not include hyphens you “good will” good will, good‐will
will not retrieve all variant forms. goodwill goodwill

Abbreviations – Enter the term with periods and c.b.c. c.b.c., c b c, cbc
without spaces to retrieve all variations of an “c.b.c.” c. b. c., c b c
abbreviation. “c b c” c. b. c., c b c
cbc cbc

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