Proximity searching is a technique for searching a keyword within a certain number of words from another keyword. Searching in this manner can help to limit the total number of results you receive while delivering a more focused list of results relevant to your topic in a database. Finding keywords within close proximity to one another is a simple and useful way to employ some advanced searching techniques into your research workflow. Try proximity searching from the main search box on the library website (Summon) using this example: “radiotherapy carcinoma” ~3.

The ~3 tells Summon to find the words radiotherapy and carcinoma within 3 words from one another. The double quotes surrounding both words are necessary so Summon knows which keywords to search on. For questions about proximity searching in Summon (or other databases), please ask us!