Scope

• A proximity search is a way of searching for two or more words that appear a specified number of words apart or less in the database.
• The proximity operators are composed of a letter (N or W) and a number (to specify the number of words).
• The proximity operator is placed between the words which are to be searched in proximity, as follows:

Near Operator (N)

• In the following example, "N5" will find the words if they are within 5 words of one another regardless of the order in which they appear.
  • Example
    • Type tax N5 reform to find results that would match "tax reform" as well as "reform of income tax".

Within Operator (W)

• In the following example, "W8" will find the words if they are within 8 words of each other and in the order in which you entered them.
  • Example
    • Type tax W8 reform to find:
    • "tax reform" and "tax law attracting more reform-oriented law students"
    • But not "reform of income tax".