index
Wildcards
Wildcards represent unknown characters.
-
The asterisk (*) represents any group of characters, including no character.
-
The question mark (?) represents any single character.
-
The dollar sign ($) represents zero or one character.
If you need to use wildcards for Arabic search terms,
you must use the Arabic local language version.
We recommend users search terms in the language of the local interface
language they select. For example, if you select the Arabic language, type
search terms in Arabic. Your search results may not always be accurate when you
combine two different language (e.g., English and Arabic).
For advanced search, you can use field tags, Boolean characters, and
wildcards. However, as you type in the advanced search field, the local language
dictates how field tags, Boolean characters, wildcards display in the field.
For example, in the Arabic local interface, if you type #1 OR #3 in
the advanced search field, the text displays: OR #1 #3 and will return
the correct results based on #1 OR #3.
Note: Author and publication source name search aids are
always in English regardless of the selected local interface language.
index
Right-Hand and Internal Truncation
- At least three characters must precede the wildcard in Title and Topic
searches. For example, zeo* is acceptable but
ze* is not.
-
Wildcards may be used inside a word. For example, odo$r
finds odor and odour.
- You may use different wildcards in one term: l?chee$
matches lichee, lichees, lychee, lychees.
-
You cannot use wildcards after special characters (/ @ #) and punctuation (.
, : ; !).
-
You cannot use wildcards in a publication year search. For example,
2007 is acceptable but 200* is not.
-
You cannot search on a wildcard if it appears in a word or name. For example,
the search TS=E*Trade OR TS="E*Trade" will not return records
about the company called E*Trade.
-
Avoid using wildcards in search queries with very broad truncation matches.
For example, a search on UT=*2 or UT=*2* or
UT=*22 or UT=*22* may return incomplete
results (or no results) because there are simply too many matches.
Left-Hand Truncation
-
You can use left-hand truncation in the following search fields in all
Web of Science product databases: Topic, Title, and Identifying Codes.
-
In Topic and Title searches, you must enter at least three characters after
the wildcard when using left-hand truncation. For example: *bio
- Left-hand truncation is not supported in Author and Cited Author searches.
-
In Identifying Code searches, you must enter at least one character after the
wildcard when using left-hand truncation. For example: *2307
index
Wildcards, Hyphens, and Apostrophes
The search engine treats hyphens (-) and apostrophes (') in names as spaces.
For example:
AU=O Brien returns the same number of results as
AU=O'Brien.
Try searching for names with and without a space. For example,
AU=OBrien OR AU=O Brien returns both variants
of the name.
When searching for hyphenated query terms, enter the term with and without
wildcards. For example:
-
TS=hydro-power returns records that contain the terms
hydro-power and hydro power.
-
TS=hydro*power returns records that contain the terms
hydropower and hydroelectricpower.
-
TS=hydro power returns records that contain the terms hydro
and power anywhere in the record, such as hydro-power, hydro-electrical power,
and hydro-mechanical power.
index
Useful Tips
|
index
Asterisk (*) Examples
s*food matches:
seafood
soyfood
enzym* matches:
enzyme
enzymes
enzymatic
enzymic
Hof*man* matches:
Hofman
Hofmann
Hoffman
Hoffmann
index
Question Mark (?) Example
wom?n matches:
woman
women
index
Dollar Sign ($) Examples
colo$r matches:
color
colour
grain$ matches:
grain
grains
index
Multi-wildcard Example
organi?ation* matches:
organisation
organisations
organisational
organization
organizations
organizational
|
