Search does not function properly unless a hyphen term is used (eg: -string)

[gotigers898]

A search will display no results or fewer results than it should unless a "minus" search term is used.  For example, search for: 1819 large cent.  As of right now that search shows 193 results across all categories.  If you add any unrelated term with a hyphen in front of it, the results increase.  For example, make your search: 1819 large cent -hyphen, the results jump to 293.  Doing the same under sold listings, the 1819 large cent search shows 0 results.  Adding the -hyphen term and that jumps to 208.

Also possibly related is that number search terms often don't work and other numbers show in the search results.  So if you search for 2013 coins, the results may show 2014 2019 2021 or any year including 2013.

[eburtonlab]

Using a minus sign in front of a keyword has a couple of effects.

One effect is to exclude that keyword from your search results.

But another effect is to disable the smart search features, specifically keyword substitution, and automatic category navigation.

Excluding the keyword and disabling keyword substitutions will tend to lower the the number of search results. But the last effect, disabling automatic category navigation, may have the opposite effect of providing more results if the search winds up in "all categories" rather than a search in a particular category, which may happen without the exclusion term.