Proximity searching

What is proximity searching?

Proximity searching helps you to search for one term near another (e.g. sun before moon) in a Full Text search. This is useful for finding words which may appear near each other in a number of different phrases (e.g. sun and moon; sun, moon, and stars; attraction of the sun on the moon; etc.).

How do I run a proximity search?

1. Make sure the Full Text search panel is displayed (click to open it).

2. Type the first word you want to find into the SEARCH FOR... box.

3. Choose your search area from the list box showing full text (the default). Note that the selected search area applies to both search terms.

4. Click the button to reveal the proximity search options.

   These are: a second input box, a list box for selecting the level of proximity, and radio buttons for choosing the relative position of the two search terms.

5. Type your second term into the bottom input box.

6. Choose from the list box the maximum number of words you want your terms to be separated by (default 1 word).

   The number of terms is inclusive of the second word, i.e. 1 word means adjacent words, 2 words means your terms are separated by one word, etc.

7. Choose whether you want to search for your first term before or after your second term, or both, and click the appropriate radio button.

8. Click the button.

9. The results are displayed in the results list.

10. Click on any of the entry titles to move there.

More about proximity search options

Proximity of terms

You can look for your terms within 1, 2, 5, and 10 words of another in the same section. Alternatively, you can look for them anywhere within the same section. A section is an individual definition, etymology, or quotation. In the full text search area, entry names and spellings sections are covered in addition to all these others.

Before, after, before or after

Which of these options you choose depends on the likely order of the words you want to find. The option before or after finds your search terms in any order (i.e. near one another). The option before is the default.