# Is there a way to do this search?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-this-search/343618>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [February 8, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-this-search/343618 "2006-02-08T23:45:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-this-search/343618/1 "2006-02-08T23:45:17Z")

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I’m trying to find a way to find threads (mainly GD) about Martin Luther, but not about Martin Luther King, Jr. Is there a way? My searching skills aren’t the best.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-this-search/343618/2 "2006-02-08T23:54:23Z")

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I don’t think the board is capable of running Boolean searches.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-this-search/343618/3 "2006-02-09T13:40:00Z")

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You can search for posts based on username, word(s) in the post or just in the subject, by date, and only in particular forums. But no exclusion, no, sorry.

TubaDiva

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-this-search/343618/4 "2006-02-09T13:46:56Z")

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Are you sure? A search for “martin luther” brings up this thread. Adding -king eliminates it and brings up largely religious threads.

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-do-this-search/343618/5 "2006-02-09T15:02:29Z")

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I guess I will provide my own answer. The search using key words/search entire post for **“martin luther”** returns 192 results for the last 12 months, the search **“martin luther” -king** returns 57.