How is a search conducted in Westlaw using plain English referred to?

The method of conducting a search in Westlaw using plain English is referred to as a natural language search. This approach allows users to enter queries in a conversational format, reflecting how they would typically ask a question in everyday language. This makes the search process more intuitive and accessible, especially for those who may not be familiar with specialized legal terminology or complex search syntax.

Natural language search capabilities enable the software to interpret the user's intent and context, improving the relevance of the results provided. This is particularly useful in legal research, where specificity and precision are important, yet many users might not know the exact legal phrases or keywords to use.

Other terms such as simple query search or basic search command suggest a more straightforward or command-line approach that may not fully capture the flexibility and user-friendly nature of natural language processing. Plain text search could imply a less nuanced input, lacking the sophisticated interpretation of user queries that natural language searches employ. Thus, the emphasis on the conversational aspect of the search process is what distinctly characterizes a natural language search in Westlaw.