Finding matches is similar to a search engine like Google. For a basic search, if all the words in the search term appear anywhere on the same page, it is a match.
A word will also find 'fuzzy' matches. For example, searching for [plant] will also find [plants], [planted], [planting].
Require words be near each other by using wildcards:
"*": Words are in order and separated by any amount. This is only for whole words, not partial words (wrong: "Uni* States").
"?": Words are in order and adjacent or separated by one word. Use "? ?" for up to two words, "? ? ?" for three, etc.
"=": Words are separated by exactly one word. They cannot be adjacent. Use "= =" for exactly two words, "= = =" for three, etc.
"^": Words are separated by one or more words. This is the opposite of '?'. Use "^ ^" for at least two or more words, "^ ^ ^" for three, etc.
Unlike wildcards above, if it doesn't matter which word comes first, use:
"NEAR#": CAPS required. Words can be in any order and have up to "#" words between them. Use "NEAR0" for adjacent words.
"~": Shorthand for "NEAR0", adjacent words in any order.
"-": The word must not exist. Use before a word or phrase, eg: -word, -"some phrase". Cannot use inside quotes or with proximity wildcards (?, *, etc).
If an exact spelling or phrase is desired, use quotes("). Proximity wildcards above also work inside quotes. eg: "Cyberdyne * T3".
| Phrase | Matches |
| plant | plant, plants, planting |
| "plant" | plant |
| house plant |
The house had many plants planted oaks in the housing development |
| three ? mice |
three mice three blind mice |
| Google NEAR2 Apple |
Google and Apple Apple partners with Google |
| water NEAR0 bottle |
water bottles bottled water |
| "water NEAR0 bottle" |
water bottle bottle water |
| Obama -Barack |
Michelle Obama Obama and Clinton |