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STN Proximity Operators

Operator Function
(W) or space Terms must be adjacent and in the order specified
(nW) Terms must be adjacent and in the order specified with n or fewer intervening terms
(A) Terms must be adjacent but in any order
(nA) Terms must be adjacent but in any order with n or fewer intervening terms
(L) Terms must occur in same information unit (e.g. title, keyword, or index)

Examples in CA File

You Enter System Response
s gas (w) chromatography L1 20954 GAS (W) CHROMOTAGRAPHY
s gas (a) chromatography L2 44392 GAS (A) CHROMATOGRAPHY
s gas (l) chromatography L3 48054 (L) CHROMATOGRAPHY
s gas and chromatography L4 48922 GAS AND CHROMATOGRAPHY

Tips

  • Spacing around proximity operators is optional
  • Both the letter for the proximity operator and the parantheses are required for all proximity operators except (w). In fields that have individually indexed terms, you can use a space instead of a (w).
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