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Terms

Terms. 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. There is no right or wrong way to construct a search; just proceed using common sense.

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Terms

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  1. Terms

  2. 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 • There is no right or wrong way to construct a search; just proceed using common sense. • Host,intoxicated, andguestwill be the key terms for this exercise. • We could have chosen more terms but it’s wise to stick with the essential terms.

  3. Terms host intoxicated guest hostess drunk alcohol • 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.

  4. Using the Thesaurus to Find Alternative Terms Thesaurus Intoxicated Alternatives 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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, anddrunk. • 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, andobjectedbutnotobjective.

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

  8. Terms: AutomaticEnhancements • 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. • Womanretrieves women,woman’s, and women’s;womenorwoman’swill not retrieve woman. Use the singular form of a word unless you have a good reason not to.

  9. Terms: Automatic Enhancements • Search term 415 also retrieves 415.5, 415(b), and415(b)(1)(A). • 415.1 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

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