Search Connectors

The information in this article applies to the following LexisNexis^® products and services: Lexis+^®, Lexis^®, Lexis Advance^® Quicklaw^®, Lexis+™ Canada

The service ordinarily processes search terms from left to right, but allows you to use connectors to define the relationship between your search terms, which also affects the processing order of search terms.

The following information applies to all connectors on the service:

• You can use one connector or multiple connectors to construct the search
• You can search for a connector, such as not, as a term by putting the term in quotes
• Connectors operate in order of priority

Note: Connectors are case sensitive and should always be in lowercase letters. Using uppercase letters for a connector in your search may retrieve unexpected results.
 

 

Connector Priority - Order of Operators

and +n, pre/n /p not /n

or /s +p, pre/p not /s

/n +s, pre/s and not, but not not /p

 

Connector Priority - Order of Operators

Connectors operate in order of priority, which means searches are processed in order of the connector priority.

The connectors are read in the following order of priority:

1. or
2. /n, +n, not /n
3. /s, +s
4. /p, +p
5. and
6. and not, but not

When you use multiple number based connectors (e.g., /n, +n, or not /n) in a search, they are processed in numerical order from smallest number to largest number. If you use the same number with in a search (e.g., multiple /5 connectors in a search), they are processed left to right in the search, per normal processing order.

You can use parentheses in your search to change the order in which the service reads and processes the connectors. For more information, see Using Parentheses in a Terms & Connectors Search . 

[ Top ]
 

and Connector

Use and or the ampersand (&) to find the search terms anywhere in the document. The service locates the search terms in the document, but you may not always find the search terms near each other or in the same section. Use and when you do not have to find the search terms near each other in the document.

For example, to find documents that include budget deficits generally, enter:

budget and deficit

budget & deficit

Note: The ampersand (&) cannot be searched as a symbol or a special character. It is only an equivalent for the connector and. If you enter a caselaw search and the only connector is and, the service determines whether to run it as a Terms & Connector search or a Natural Language search based on the other search terms.
 

[ Top ]
 

or Connector

Use or to find documents that contain any of the terms or all terms you enter. You can also use or to include synonyms, antonyms, alternative spellings, or abbreviations in the search.

For example, to find documents that mention different boats generally, enter:

ship or vessel or boat or yacht or sailboat
 

[ Top ]
 

/n Connector

Use /n to find documents where the service locates the first term within a specified number of words of the second term. You can also use the w/n connector as an alternative to /n.

Note: The /n cannot be used in Public Records. You must use w/n in Public Records.

For example, to find documents where piercing occurs within 3 words of veil, enter:

piercing /3 veil

There is no maximum number for the proximity connector. You can use any number you like, such as /500 or /2000, but we recommend that you use a number less than 100. If you use a number greater than 100, that increases the likelihood that the service finds your terms in unrelated contexts within the documents.
 

[ Top ]
 

+n Connector, pre/n Connector

Use +n to find documents where the service locates the first term within a specified number of words before the second term. You can also use the pre/n connector as an alternative to +n.

Note: The +n cannot be used in Public Records. You must use pre/n in Public Records.

You should use the +n connector in situations where a different word order changes the meaning of a statement. For example, summary judgment is different than judgment summary, so to find references to summary judgment, enter:

summary +2 judgment

You may choose any number for n, but we recommend that you use a number less than 100. If you use a number greater than 100, that increases the likelihood that the service finds your terms in unrelated contexts within the documents.
 

[ Top ]
 

/s Connector

Use /s to find documents where the service locates search terms in the same sentence, approximately within 25 words of each other. You can also use the w/s connector as an alternative to /s.

Note: The /s and w/s connectors are not available in Public Records.

For example, to find overtime in the same sentence, of compensation, enter:

overtime /s compensation

[ Top ]
 

+s Connector, pre/s Connector

Use +s to find documents where the service locates the first term within a sentence (approximately 25 words) in front of the second term. You can also use the pre/s connector as an alternative to +s.

Note: The +s and pre/s connectors are not available in Public Records.

For example, to find responsible party in front of cleanup costs by approximately 25 words, enter:

responsible party +s cleanup costs
 

[ Top ]
 

/p Connector

Use /p to find documents where the service locates search terms in the same paragraph, approximately within 75 words of each other. You can also use the w/p connector as an alternative to /p.

Note: The /p and w/p connectors are not available in Public Records.

For example, to find subcontract or sub-contract in the same paragraph, within approximately 75 words of architect, enter:

subcontract or sub-contract /p architect 

 

[ Top ]
 

+p Connector, pre/p Connector

Use +p to find documents where the service locates the first term within a paragraph (approximately 75 words) in front of the second term. You can also use the pre/p connector as an alternative to +p.

Note: The +p and pre/p connectors are not available in Public Records.

For example, to find architect in front of defective design by approximately 75 words, enter:

architect +p defective design
 

[ Top ]
 

and not Connector, but not Connector

Use and not, but not, or the percent symbol (%) to indicate terms you do not want the service to include in the results.

For example, to find documents with a discussion of intentional infliction of emotional distress, but that do not mention negligent infliction of emotional distress, enter:

intentional infliction of emotional distress and not negligent infliction of emotional distress

You can exclude multiple terms when you enterand not before each term, or include the terms to exclude in parenthesis separated by or:

capital and not (gains or improvements)

You can exclude terms in a segment when you enter and not before the segment:

hearsay and not name(state or people)

The word not can be an alternative to and not. However, the word not is read as a connector only when there is at least one other, different connector in the search (or, and, /n, etc.). If there are no other connectors in the search, not is read as a search term.

The following searches are examples of how not is viewed in different searches

• failure to state a claim not an affirmative defense - not is searched as a search term since there are no other connectors in the search
• summary judgment /20 failure to state a claim not /5 affirmative defense - not is searched as a connector since there are other connectors present.

Note: We recommend using the and not connector at the end of your search. For example, when running a search to find documents discussing a hostile work environment and harassment but not gender discrimination, construct your search as:

hostile work environment and harass! and not (gender /3 discrim!)

instead of:

hostile work environment and not (gender /3 discrim!) and harass!
 

[ Top ]
 

not /n Connector

Use not /n to find the first term where there is no mention of the second term by at least the specified number of words. You can also use the not w/n connector as an alternative to not /n.

Note: The not /n cannot be used in Public Records. You must use not w/n in Public Records.

For example, to find documents where trust is not within 5 words of charitable, enter:

trust not /5 charitable
 

[ Top ]
 

not /s Connector

Use not /s to find the first term where there is no mention of the second term by at least a sentence (approximately 25 words). You can also use the not w/s connector as an alternative to not /s.

Note: The not /sconnector is not available in Public Records.

For example, to find documents where trust is not within a sentence (approximately 25 words) of charitable, enter:

trust not /s charitable
 

[ Top ]
 

not /p Connector

Use not /p to find the first term where there is no mention of the second term by at least a paragraph (approximately 75 words) of each other. You can also use the not w/p connector as an alternative to not /p.

Note: The not /p connector is not available in Public Records.

For example, to find documents where option is not within a paragraph (approximately 75 words) of employment contract, enter:

option not /p employment contract
 

[ Top ]