---
title: Advanced Search - Desktop
description: Esper also supports an Advanced Search function to help you narrow your results quickly. This function is especially helpful if you are looking for a specific policy but do not know its name or number
---

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# Advanced Search - Desktop

Esper also supports an Advanced Search function to help you narrow your results quickly. This function is especially helpful if you are looking for a specific policy but do not know its name or number. An advanced search is built off of a standard search, meaning you must first search a keyword or number in Esper to launch the Advanced Search tool.

Once you have conducted a search for keyword, follow these steps:

- Click on the ![](https://support.esper.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/14712640185747.png?width=18&height=17&name=14712640185747.png) button in the Search Bar on the search page
- Enter the keywords(s) in one or any combination of the following categories to narrow the search results: 
    - All of these words
    - These exact words or phrase
    - Any of these words
    - None of these words

![Advanced\_Search.gif](https://support.esper.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/14712679910675.gif)

You can use keyboard shortcuts to conduct an Advanced Search instead of the ![](https://support.esper.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/14712755230867.png?width=19&height=18&name=14712755230867.png) button. These shortcuts are listed below:

- The - (minus sign): When placed in front of a term, the search will return policies that DO NOT contain that term.
- The + (plus sign): A + in front of terms will search for more than one keyword.
- " " (quotes): Use quotes to search for a specific phrase.

*Note: Do not include a space between the shortcuts and the search terms*

Examples:

- regular -sick will search for policies that do contain regular and explicitly do not contain the word sick
- +regular +sick +chronic will search for only policies that contain all three words.
- "regular sick" will search policies that contain the phrase regular sick
- "regular sick" -vacation will search policies that contain the phrase "regular sick," but not the word vacation

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