Effective Legal Database Searching: Using Search Operators

This handout is designed to help you to use search operators for the following databases: Westlaw, Lawtel, PLC,
Lexis Library, HeinOnline, and CityLibrary Search. Remember that the best search results come from building an effective
search. Here are some tips:
 Plan your search by identifying keywords, related terms and synonyms, and remember to note the ones you use
 Ensure that you are using the correct spelling or citation
 Familiarise yourself with each database’s Advanced Search functions and remember to filter your results
 Use search operators to build more complex searches

Common Search Operators and Examples of Use

Function Databases and Examples
Westlaw, Lawtel, PLC, HeinOnline, Lexis Library will automatically
No CityLibrary Search will search by exact phrase.
automatically connect search terms
connectors
using AND.

Westlaw, PLC use &. Lexis Library, CityLibrary Search

Searches for two or more separate terms in one Lawtel use AND or &. use AND.
AND document using AND. This can narrow your
HeinOnline uses && or AND
search. Example: Brexit & Aviation or
Example: Brexit && Aviation
Brexit AND Aviation

Combines two or more search terms using OR so
that each search result will contains at least one
OR
or the other of your search terms. This can
broaden your search.
Westlaw, Lawtel, PLC, Lexis Library, HeinOnline, CityLibrary Search use
OR.
Example: Cargo OR Shipment OR Freight

Westlaw, Lawtel, PLC, HeinOnline, Lexis Library will automatically

Searches for the exact phrase enclosed within CityLibrary Search use “ “. search by exact phrase.
Exact Phrase
quotation marks.
Example: “Montreal Convention” Example: Montreal Convention

Searches for everything in front of the operator Lexis Library uses AND NOT.
NOT and excludes all terms which appear after Westlaw, PLC use %.
Example: Emirates AND NOT Airline
it. This is useful for excluding common terms that Example: Emirates % Airline
NOT may be irrelevant to your search. HeinOnline uses NOT or !.
Lawtel, CityLibrary Search use NOT.
Note: Use this last in your search string as it Example: Emirates NOT Airline or
Example: Emirates NOT Airline
may override the other operators. Emirates ! Airline

Continued overleaf
 Function
Searches for two or more terms within a
specified proximity to narrow your search:
Within the same sentence
Proximity
Search Within the same paragraph
Within n or # number of words
(where n or # is replaced with a number)
Replaces a single character in a word. This can help you
Wildcard search for variations of a word including regional differ-
ences in spelling.
Searches for words which have the same root but
different endings. This can be used to search for
Root
grammatical variations of a word.
Further Help
Note that each database uses slightly different search operators so carefully construct your searches. For more detailed
guidance, check the databases’ respective help pages or online user manual. If you need further assistance, email us at
lawlibrary@city.ac.uk or ask any staff member at the Help Desk.
You can also book an appointment with a Subject Librarian for Law at libguides.city.ac.uk/Lawappt.
Databases and Examples
Lexis Library uses w/s w/p w/n.
Westlaw, Lawtel use /s /p /n.
Example: Export w/s China
Example: Export /s China Example: Export w/p China
Example: Export /p China Example: Export w/10 China
Example: Export /10 China
This function in unavailable on
PLC only uses /p /n.
CityLibrary Search.
HeinOnline
For two search terms only, use /s /p /# or w/s w/p w/#. You can also
search for two words within a segment, defined as 100 words, using:
w/seg or /seg.
Example: Export w/seg China or Export /seg China
For two or more search terms use “search term”~n.
Example: “Export China”~10 or “Technology Export China”~10
Note: Proximity searches do not work in conjunction with wildcard
or root operators on HeinOnline.
Westlaw, PLC, Lexis Library use *.
Example: wom*n will search for woman and women
Lawtel, HeinOnline, CityLibrary Search use ?.
Example: organi?ation will search for organisation and organization
Westlaw, PLC, Lexis Library use !.
Lawtel, HeinOnline, CityLibrary Search use *.
Example: charit! and charit* will search for charity, charities,
charitable
Note: Be careful when selecting the word root. Shortening a root
too much could produce irrelevant results.
Example: A search for leg! will retrieve results such as legal, legacy,
legitimate, legislation. However, a search for legitima! will retrieve
results such as legitimate and legitimacy.
For CityLibrary Search, you can also use * to search for a word with a
different spelling.
Example: behavio*r will search for behavior or behaviour