SEARCH FOR Go Search ADVANCED SEARCH »
SHOP PRODUCTS Menu Dropdown
BOOKS & CDs
ONLINE LEGAL RESEARCH
FORMS

SOFTWARE & SERVICES
DIGITAL PRODUCTS

SHOP JURISDICTIONS Menu Dropdown
FEATURED
............
ALL



SHOP PRACTICE AREAS Menu Dropdown
FEATURED
ALL



MORE WAYS TO SHOP Menu Dropdown
SPECIAL SELECTIONS
SHOPPING GUIDES
PRICING OPTIONS
ORGANIZATIONS

West e-lert Newsletter
July 2010

How do I restrict my WestlawNext search to documents that contain a specific phrase?

Q: Last week, I ran the search "no merit letter" (with quotation marks) on WestlawNext. Some of the documents I retrieved didn't include the phrase no merit letter. How do I restrict my search to documents that contain the phrase?

A: West has just enhanced WestSearch to improve searches for phrases in quotation marks. Now when you enter a plain language search containing a phrase in quotation marks, WestSearch looks for the terms in the phrase within three words of each other. For example, the search "adhesion contract" retrieves documents that use the phrase contract of adhesion. This enhancement results in a more focused search result and more accurate term highlighting. However, WestSearch also continues to reach beyond your search terms so you don't miss important documents.

Note: This enhancement does not currently apply to searches of secondary sources or news.

To restrict a WestlawNext search to documents containing an exact phrase, access the Advanced Search template and type the phrase in the This exact phrase text box.


See all articles in current issue