Terms

There is no right or wrong way to construct a search; just proceed using common sense. Host, intoxicated, and guest will be the key terms for this exercise. We could have chosen more terms but it’s wise to stick with the essential terms. For this exercise let’s assume you want to retrieve all cases in a database that address A social host’s liability for injuries caused by intoxicated guests

Get into the habit of placing your key words in a horizontal line in your mind, if not actually on paper. Under each key word add any word that is a reasonable alternative. You can probably think of additional alternatives for the exercise but right now, let’s keep this exercise simple. host intoxicated guest hostess drunk alcohol Terms

Using the Thesaurus to Find Alternative Terms Thesaurus The Thesaurus feature on Westlaw provides synonyms and acronyms for the key words in your query and lets you add them to your search. The Thesaurus does not provide antonyms and other irregular alternatives but you can add these terms yourself. Alternatives Intoxicated

Expanders: Making the Most of Terms: The Root Expander (!) The root expander (!) retrieves all extensions of words with variant endings (up to 16 characters). drunk! retrieves drunk, drunken, and drunkard. Be careful not to truncate your root term too severely. depo! retrieves not only forms of deposition, but also deposit, depositor, deposited, deport, deportation, etc.

Expanders: Making the Most of Terms: The Universal Character (*) The Universal Character (*) is used in place of a letter (like a wild card or a blank tile in Scrabble). dr*nk retrieves drank, drink, and drunk. The universal character cannot be used in place of the first letter of a word. The universal character can be used at the end of a term to specify how many letters may be added. Example: object** would retrieve object, objects, and objected but not objective.

Expanders: Making the Most of Terms More than one expander can be used in a term. s****holder retrieves both shareholder and stockholder. dr*nk! retrieves drank, drink, drinkable, drunk, drinking, drunken, and drunkard.

Terms: Automatic Enhancements The singular form of a word automatically retrieves the plural and possessive forms of the word, including irregular forms. The plural or possessive, however, will not retrieve the singular. Woman retrieves women, woman’s, and women’s; women or woman’s will not retrieve woman. Use the singular form of a word unless you have a good reason not to.

Terms: Automatic Enhancements Search term 415 also retrieves 415.5, 415(b), and 415(b)(1)(A) or 415(b) will not retrieve 415. This is helpful when you are looking for mention of a statute that may or may not be cited as a particular paragraph or section.

Terms: Automatic Equivalencies Most accepted variations of the spelling of a term will retrieve other accepted variations: - Judgment = Judgement - Millennium = Millenium Automatic equivalencies are built into Westlaw. For example: - Three = 3 - First = 1st - New York = NY - Avenue = Ave.

Terms: Other Enhancements Hyphenate compound words in your search. A hyphenated term will retrieve the term whether it is one word, two words, or a hyphenated word. good-will retrieves good will, good-will, or goodwill. If you have any question whether a word might or might not be hyphenated, add the hyphen. It can’t hurt.

Terms: Other Enhancements Use periods between the letters an acronym to retrieve all variations of the acronym. –periods between letters –spaces between letters –periods and spaces between the letters –no period or spaces between letters E.P.A. retrieves E.P.A, E P A, E. P. A., and EPA.