Biography DatabasesBiography Databases
Basic Search

 


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Enter any term or phrase to formulate a natural language search. In the Basic Search and Advanced Search screens, you can enter a name in any form (first name first or last name first). You can also construct a complex search query using Boolean operators. Select either the Natural Language search or Boolean Search radio button, then click Start. Consult the online Help system and the Database Description to familiarize yourself with WilsonWeb syntax and the relevant field abbreviations.
Enter a word or phrase.
By default, your results will be displayed in descending order, sorted by title.

Sample Searches

Example 1:
Enter english poets and illustrators.
Click the Natural Language Search radio button.
Click Start.
This is a very broad search, with all variations of the term (word-stemming), and every instance of the term anywhere in the record.

Example 2:
Enter william blake in sb.
Click the Boolean Search radio button.
Click Start.
Your results only include instances where the term william blake appears in the Person (sb) field of the record.

Example 3:
Enter english poet.
Click the Boolean Search radio button.
Click Start.
Your results only include instances where the record includes the 2 words as a bound phrase. Word variations will also be included.

Notes:
To search on a phrase but prevent stemming of your terms, put your phrase within quotation marks.
For example, "poets and illustrators".
The operators and, or, not, and in do not require brackets.
Within specific relevancy rankings (if this default sort order is used) there is a secondary sort of records by date in descending order.