Improve Your Search: A Guide to Search Health Science Literature

A proximity operator searches for matches where two words are in close proximity to each other. More specifically, you specify the maximum number of words that can appear between your search terms.

Example

    Colon AND Cancer: matches when colon and cancer both appear​

    "Colon Cancer": matches when exact phrase is used​

    Colon N5 Cancer: matches when colon and cancer appear w/in 5 words of each other​

NOTE: syntax varies between databases. That means you need to check how proximity operators work in each database you use.

Proximity Operator Syntax

The below table shows the syntax for using a proximity operator in select health science databases. Please note this is not a comprehensive table and other databases besides those listed below may also have proximity operators.

Where X = the maximum number of words to be found between words. (e.g. for a maximum of three words between colon and cancer in CINAHL, you would type colon N3 cancer)