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You are here: BAILII >> About BAILII >> Help >> Lucy Search
URL: http://www.bailii.org/bailii/help/lucy_search.html

BAILII is now using the Lucy search library.

This requires some minor changes to the search syntax. There is no longer a search method dropdown ("all these words", "this phrase", etc.); instead you can group multiple search terms within your query. For example:

  • customary recreation right, or customary AND recreation AND right, finds documents containing all of the terms "customary", "recreation" and "right". (Also "customarily", "recreational", etc.; all search terms are stemmed.)
  • alien OR immigrant finds documents containing either or both of the terms "alien" or "immigrant".
  • "customary right" finds documents containing that phrase.
  • title:Locabail finds documents containing "Locabail" in the title.
  • If you want an exact word or phrase match, ignoring stemming of search terms, use the exact: search operator: exact:(customary AND recreation) will find documents containing those two specific words, but not "customarily", "recreational" etc.

More complex queries are also possible, with optional parentheses:

  • (alien OR immigrant) AND title:Locabail AND NOT "customary right"
  • title:Police AND Lynch (only the first word is in the title)
  • title:(Police AND Lynch) (both words are in the title)
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