HeinOnline offers a range of connectors and other syntax symbols which can be used in searches, including:
- AND – looks for records that contain all terms, e.g. adoption AND children
- OR – finds records that contain either term, use this to list alternatives, e.g. lawyer OR solicitor
- NOT – excludes a term from the search, e.g. accident NOT damage
- “ ” – use quotation marks round terms to look for them as a phrase e.g. “loss of earnings”
- ( ) – use to search grouped clauses to form sub queries i.e. (lawyer OR solicitor) AND malpractice
- ~n – finds terms occurring within a given number of words of each other e.g. “snail bottle”~5 will find these terms occurring within 5 words of each other.
- ? (single-character wildcard symbol) - use the question mark to look for terms that match with a single character replaced, e.g. wr?te finds write and wrote.
- * (multiple-character wildcard symbol) – use the asterisk to truncate a term, e.g. advert* finds advert, adverts, advertisement etc.; or to look for terms that match with a multiple characters replaced, e.g. bl*d finds blood, bleed, and bled.
Boolean operators must all be entered in CAPITALS.
Further information on using search syntax options can be found by selecting ‘Search Help’ link below the search box.
Alternatively, follow the ‘Help’ link at the top of the screen then ‘Advanced Search Syntax Guide’.
