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Q&A: Using Terms and Connectors in WestlawNext
July 9, 2010
Thanks to all of the Westlaw power users who participated in our recent Westlaw Research Expert Webinar Series, we received dozens of great questions about using good ol’ Terms and Connectors in WestlawNext. Here are some of the answers, provided by the West reference attorneys.
Note: For a quick review of Terms and Connectors on WestlawNext, be sure to see the slides from the webinar, and check out our collection of past Q&A posts.
Q: Can I just write a “classic” Boolean search without using the Advanced Search template?
A: Yes, you can enter a standard Boolean Terms and Connectors query into the search box without selecting Advanced Search. Whenever a query contains a connector (/, !, %, etc.), it automatically becomes a Terms and Connectors search.
Q: Once I use a connector that will initiate a Terms and Connectors search, will the function recognize other Terms and Connectors such as quotation marks?
A: Yes. When used without other connectors, quotation marks, ampersands (&), spaces, and occurrences of the word “or” are considered parts of a plain-language search. When used with other connectors, they become Boolean connectors and follow the standard Terms and Connectors search rules.
Q: Do you lose the power of the WestlawNext algorithms when you use Terms and Connectors?
A: No. The WestSearch algorithms are used for ranking the results of all searches in WestlawNext.
Q: How does relevancy ranking work when you use a Terms and Connectors search?
A: WestSearch determines which results are most relevant to your search and places them at the top of the list. WestSearch does this by analyzing dozens of relationships, including the West Key Number System, KeyCite, ResultsPlus, document links, usage patterns and editorial content.
Q: How can I search for multiple phrases, or one phrase within a number of another phrase – for example, “_____” /s “_____”?
A: Quotation marks can be used along with proximity connectors in the main search box (e.g., “_____” /s “_____”), or you can use the “All of these terms” field in the Advanced Search template. You can enter multiple phrases in quotes in that field. An ampersand (&) is added between phrases automatically, but you can also use proximity connectors like “/s.”
Q: How does WestlawNext deal with pluralization? Should we be concerned about using the exclamation point (!)?
A: WestlawNext will search both the singular and plural form of any word that you enter into the search box. If you use the Advanced Search template, searching the singular form of the word will return both singular and plural forms of the word; searching the plural will only return the plural form of the word. The “!” connector is a root expander used to bring back variations on the form of a word – for example, contract! will return contract, contractual, contracted, contraction, contracting, etc.
Q: Does the pound sign (#) just invoke a Terms and Connectors search, or does it have a role within the search as well?
A: The # symbol forces the system to search for a particular word that may be too common otherwise. For example, if you enter #before, WestSearch would look for “before” as a term. The pound symbol also turns off the automatic-equivalents function, so #dog will only search for dog and not dogs.
Q: Are all the usual fields still available – for instance, wp in cases, and sd in statutes?
A: Yes, but the best way to utilize these fields in WestlawNext is through the Advanced Search option.
Next up: Using the Advanced Search template in WestlawNext
How do you request documents with a word appearing at least [number] times in a document? Like in Lexis, you enter “atleast4(“word”).”
Louise,
Thanks for your comment! Westlaw also has similar options available by using the term frequency link underneath your Search button in Terms and Connectors in the database, or, if the link is not available, typing: ATLEAST#(word)
Some databases are too big to use this limitation feature but our West Reference Attorneys are always available to help you craft your perfect search. If you have any further questions or would like more information on this feature, contact us at 1-800-REF-ATTY (733-2889). Also, be sure to check out or research blog at http://www.westreferenceattorneys.com. We actually had a term frequency post not too long ago that is available at: http://westreferenceattorneys.com/?p=1508
I don’t understand how the # helps search commonly used terms. The example states:
“The # symbol forces the system to search for a particular word that may be too common otherwise. For example, if you enter #before, WestSearch would look for “before” as a term.”
Are you saying that the # prevents a “too many results” determination? The example seems to say that if you search for the term “#before” you’ll find the word “before.” Is this different than searching for “before” without the #? After all, there is no plural of “before.” Am I confusing the words “word” and “term?” Many thanks in advance.
Ben we asked one of our reference attorneys for clarification, and here is their response:
In the example provided the word “before” is a noise word on WestlawNext. Noise words are ignored unless the # symbol is used. If the # symbol is used, WestlawNext will run the query as a terms and connectors, rather than a WestSearch, query.
If a noise word is the only term used in a search it will result in an error and no search will run.
If a noise word is the only term used in a search and the # symbol is placed immediately before the noise word the search will run as a terms and connectors query and look only for the noise word.
If a noise word is included as part of a larger search the noise word will be ignored and the search will proceed as a WestSearch without it.
If a noise word is included as part of a larger search with the # symbol immediately before the noise word it will be included in the search but will run as a terms and connectors query.