# 'We were unable to perform your search.' What should I do? Here are **the most common errors that you should correct:** ‌ ### **The query starts with AND** You cannot start a query with AND all uppercase. [AND is reserved as a search operator](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#and-or).

Screenshot of Datashare's search page with 'AND ikea' in the search bar and the message 'We were unable to perform your search. This might be due to a server error or a syntax error in your query'

### **The query starts with OR** You cannot start a query with OR all uppercase. [OR is reserved as a search operator](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#or-or-space).

Screenshot of Datashare's search page with 'OR ikea' in the search bar and the message 'We were unable to perform your search. This might be due to a server error or a syntax error in your query'

### **The query contains only one double-quote: "** ‌You cannot start or type a query with only one double quote. [Double quotes are reserved as a search operator](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#double-quotes-for-exact-phrase) for exact phrase.

Screenshot of Datashare's search page with '"ikea' in the search bar and the message 'We were unable to perform your search. This might be due to a server error or a syntax error in your query'

### **The query contains only one parenthesis: ( or )** ‌You cannot start or type a query with only one parenthesis. [Parenthesis are reserved for combining operators](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#combine-operators).

### **The query contains only one forward slash: /** ‌You cannot start or type a query with only one forward slash. Forward slashes are reserved for regular expressions (Regex).

### **The query starts with or contains tilde:** \~ ‌You cannot start a query with tilde (\~) or write one which contains tilde. Tilde is reserved as a search operator for [fuzziness](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#fuzziness) or [proximity searches](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#proximity-searches).

### **The query ends with question mark: !** You cannot end a query with question mark (!). [Question mark is reserved as a search operator for excluding a term](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#not-or-or).

### **The query starts with or contains caret:** ^ ‌You cannot start a query with caret (^) or write one which contains caret. [Caret is reserved as a boosting operator](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#boosting-operators).

### The query **contains** square brackets: \[ or ] You cannot use square brackets [except for searching for ranges](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/search-with-operators#search-with-metadata-fields).