# '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](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#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](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#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](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#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'
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'
Screenshot of Datashare's search page with 'ik"ea' 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](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#combine-operators).
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'
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'
Screenshot of Datashare's search page with 'ik(ea' 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 forward slash: /** ‌You cannot start or type a query with only one forward slash. Forward slashes are reserved for regular expressions (Regex).
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 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](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#fuzziness) or [proximity searches](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#proximity-searches).
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'
Screenshot of Datashare's search page with 'ik~ea' 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 ends with question mark: !** You cannot end a query with question mark (!). [Question mark is reserved as a search operator for excluding a term](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#not-or-or).
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 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](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#boosting-operators).
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'
Screenshot of Datashare's search page with 'ik^ea' 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** square brackets: \[ or ] You cannot use square brackets [except for searching for ranges](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md#search-with-metadata-fields).
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'
--- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/usage/faq/common-errors/your-search-query-is-wrong.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.