Asking by meaning
How to phrase a query so the best passages surface, and what to try when they do not.
The search compares the meaning of what you type with the meaning of every passage, so the best query is the one that says most clearly what you are looking for. A few habits make a real difference.
Say the whole idea
Write a full question, or a phrase that describes the idea, rather than a keyword. A single word has many meanings and returns a broad, mixed page. A sentence gives the search enough to find passages about your particular concern, and the more specific the wording, the narrower the page.
Type the line you half remember
If a verse or a talk is on the tip of your tongue, type it as you remember it. The words do not have to be right; the meaning is what is matched. When you are sure of the exact wording, wrap it in straight double quotes instead, which requires those words. See Exact phrases with quotes.
Narrow with an operator
Add SPEAKER: to keep results to one person, or TOPIC: to keep them to documents tagged with one subject. Everything else you type still searches by meaning.
As you type two or more characters, a dropdown under the box offers matching people and topics, each marked "Speaker" or "Topic". Picking one replaces the words you typed with the operator, so pick first, then type what you want to find, then press Enter. TOPIC: needs a topic's exact name, so the dropdown is the surest way to get one. Details are in Filtering by speaker or author and Filtering by topic, and every operator is in the Operator cheat sheet.
When the results miss
Try these, in roughly this order.
- Rephrase. Say the idea a different way, or add the detail that matters to you.
- Check the scope. The line above the results says which libraries and years were searched. Every year is searched unless you set a range; clear the Time Period boxes under "Filters" to widen it again.
- Turn on more libraries. Interpreter and the Apocrypha are off unless you switch them on.
- Lower the Accuracy Score under Advanced. The default is 40%; a lower number admits looser matches.
When nothing comes back covers empty pages and error messages, and How search works explains why these steps help.
Read next
- How search worksWhy results match by meaning rather than by matching words, and what that changes.
- Exact phrases with quotesWrap words in double quotes to require them, word for word.
- When nothing comes backEmpty pages, error messages, and what to try next.