Truncation character (*) - retrieves variations of the search term. Use the truncation character at the beginning (left-hand truncation), the end (right-hand truncation) or in the middle of search terms.

Standard truncation (*) retrieves variations on the search term, replacing up to 10 characters.

*toxic* retrieves cytotoxic, neurotoxicities, hepatotoxicologic, etc.

Tum*r retrieves tumor, tumour, etc.

Term? ?

≤1 additional character

≤3 additional characters

Term???

≤ # characters defined by # question marks

Defined truncation ([*n] or $n) replaces up to the number of characters specified, for example [*50]. The maximum number of characters that can be entered is 125. Truncation can be used successfully inside quotation marks (e.g., "senior citizen*"); defined truncation inside quotation marks must use the [*#] format.

Term[*1] or Term$1; [*1]Term or $1Term; Ter[*1]m or Ter$1m, etc.

Term[*3] or Term$3; [*3]Term or $3Term, etc.

Defined truncation (?) replaces exactly the number of characters specified by the number of ? used

One question mark '?' will retrieve one character only (but not zero).

Cat? will retrieve "cats", "cate", "cato", but not "cat".

Two question marks '??" will retrieve 2 characters only, but not less than 2.

Cat?? will retrieve "catty", but not "cats".

T1 (W)

T2

"T1 T2"

T1 PRE/0 T2

T1 P/0 T2

Use quotes turns off the automated plurals and alternate spelling. 

To retain automated plurals and alternate spellings, use: T1 PRE/0 T2

PRE/0 (or P/0) is the equivalent of (W) or ()

T1 (#W)

T2

T1 PRE/# T2

T1 P/# T2

PRE/# allows any number of words between T1 and T2, with T1 and T2 being in the specified order.

Used alone, PRE defaults to PRE/4

T1 NEAR/0 T2

T1 N/0 T2

NEAR/0 is the equivalent of the Dialog (N) operator

The (L) connector in Dialog links together terms in the same subfield, in particular fields, such as Descriptor term plus Subheading (qualifier) in a Thesaurus search or elements on the same row in a table metafield, such as Development Phase and Indication in drug pipeline databases. ProQuest Dialog introduces the operator LNK (or --) between the same elements.

e.g.: mesh,emb("multiple sclerosis" LNK DI) or mesh,emb("multiple sclerosis" LNK "diagnosis") or mesh,emb("multiple sclerosis -- diagnosis").

e.g.: phase()III (L) psoriasis/ST will become PHS("phase III" LNK psoriasis).

See Searching the Thesaurus below for more examples.

Note: LNK is currently enabled for this specific use in some databases including MEDLINE®, Embase®, Derwent Drug File, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and some fields in the pipeline databases. LNK may work in other databases or fields but may function as AND.

T1 NEAR/10 T2

T1 () T2 () T3

T1 (W) T2 (W) T3

"T1 T2 T3"

Note: Quotes turn off the automated plurals and alternate spelling.
Use T1 PRE/0 T2 PRE/0 T3 to retain automated plurals and alternate spelling.

AB(T1 or T2) or TI(T1 or T2)

AB,TI(T1 or T2)

(T1 OR T2) (S) (T3 OR T4)

(T1 OR T2) (F) (T3 OR T4)

(T1 OR T2) NEAR/10 (T3 OR T4)

There is no direct equivalent of (S) or (F) on ProQuest Dialog but a recommended suggestion is to use NEAR/10 in databases with abstracts only and NEAR/150 in full-text databases.

T1 OR "T2 T3" OR T4

T1 OR (T2 P/0 T3) OR T4

T1 OR (T2 PRE/0 T3) OR T4

CATTLE WEIGHERS/DE

CATTLE()WEIGHERS/DE

SU("CATTLE WEIGHERS")

MESH(T1) ; EMB(T1)

The general Field code for Descriptor in ProQuest Dialog is SU.

MEDLINE and Embase have special field codes for the MESH terms (MESH) or EMTREE terms (EMB).

SU.EXACT("CATTLE") or SU.X("CATTLE")

EXACT or X will search for the specified term or phrase only, excluding descriptors containing more unspecified terms.

e.g.: SU.EXACT("CATTLE") will exclude SU("cattle weighers").

SU.EXPLODE(T1)

MESH.EXPLODE(T1) or MESH#(T1)

EMB.EXPLODE(T1) or EMB#(T1)

ABDOMINAL CANCER!/MAJ

ABDOMINAL()CANCER!/MAJ

ABDOMINAL NEOPLASMS!/MAJ

ANALGESICS, NON-NARCOTIC!/MAJ

MJEMB.EXACT.EXPLODE("ABDOMINAL CANCER") OR MJEMB#("ABDOMINAL CANCER")

MJMESH.EXACT.EXPLODE("ABDOMINAL NEOPLASMS") OR MJMESH#("ABDOMINAL NEOPLASMS")

MJMESH.EXACT.EXPLODE("ANALGESICS, NON-NARCOTIC")

(ABDOMINAL CANCER (L) DI)/DE

ABDOMINAL CANCER (L) DI

EMB("ABDOMINAL CANCER -- DIAGNOSIS")

EMB("ABDOMINAL CANCER" LNK DI)

MESH("ABDOMINAL NEOPLASMS" LNK "DIAGNOSIS")

PHS("PHASE III" LNK PSORIASIS)

Similar to Dialog, linking a descriptor term to a Subheading (Qualifier) can be done by selecting the proper qualifier in the Thesaurus window, or by using the connector LNK (or --).

With the LNK connector add quotes to the Descriptor term and the full-name Qualifier.

MJEMB.EXACT.EXPLODE("ABDOMINAL CANCER -- DIAGNOSIS") or MJEMB#("ABDOMINAL CANCER -- DIAGNOSIS")

MJEMB.EXACT.EXPLODE("ABDOMINAL CANCER" LNK "DIAGNOSIS") or MJEMB#("ABDOMINAL CANCER" LNK "DIAGNOSIS")

MJMESH.EXACT.EXPLODE("ABDOMINAL NEOPLASMS" LNK DI)

Similar to Dialog, the search in the Thesaurus can combine the explosion, the search as Major Descriptor and the link to a qualifier. This can be done either by selecting the related options in the Thesaurus window or by using the proper tags and connectors.

With the LNK connector add quotes to both the Descriptor term and the full-name Qualifier.