Members use a different word from your site
Members rarely search in your language. They use the short form, the acronym, or the old name for something you renamed. A synonym tells search that two words mean the same thing. Group those words once and it applies to every search from then on.
Add a synonym
- Go to Synonyms and click Add group. From the Worklist, use the row menu's Add synonym instead, and the search is filled in for you.
- In Terms (comma-separated), type the words, for example:
CPD, continuing professional development. You need at least two. - Choose the Type:
- Two-way: a search for any of the words finds the others. Use this for most synonyms.
- One-way: a search for the first word also finds the rest, but not the reverse. Use it when the first word is broader than the others.
- Leave Applies to as All searches (site-wide), unless the synonym only makes sense in one search.
- Keep Enabled ticked and click Create group.
It works on the next search. There is no confirmation message; the group appears in the list.
Change or remove one
Use the "…" menu on the row: Edit or Delete. To pause a synonym without deleting it, edit it and untick Enabled.
What a synonym does not do
A synonym makes words equal. It does not push a page up the results. If the right page still is not first, pin it.