How does Knovel handle synonyms in Search?

Knovel uses both automated and user-controlled methods for expanding searches using synonyms.

Automated Search Expansion means Knovel analyzes your search and automatically expands your query to include results with matches to synonymous terms.

• This automated expansion of your query means additional synonyms are added with a Boolean OR.
• For example, a search that includes the phrase, acid number, will automatically be expanded to look for results that include not only acid number, but any of its synonymous property names (acid value, neutralization number, AV). The query effectively is executed as acid number OR acid value OR neutralization number OR AV.
• Automated Search Expansion using synonyms is done for:

  • Property names
  • Limited set of most-frequently search materials/substances
  • Publisher names
• Closely related to synonyms are lexical variants. Automated Search Expansion using lexical variants is done for:

  • Singular/plurals
  • Verb tense
  • UK/US spellings

User-Controlled Search Expansion means the user controls whether to expand the query to include results that match synonymous Engineering Concepts.

• On the homepage and search results page, the user will see a toggle beneath the search box, ‘Include Synonyms’.
• The default is OFF.
• Changing the toggle to ON means your query will expand to include synonyms for Engineering Concept(s) we find in your query.
• This is an easy way for you to return comprehensive results without your needing to manually incorporate into your query the varied ways an Engineering Concept can be expressed.
• The various synonyms for a given Engineering Concept are searched with a Boolean OR, returning results that include any of the synonymous Concepts.