How is the NOT W/N operator different from the W/N operator in dtSearch?

The NOT W/N operator differs from the W/N operator in that it is not symmetrical. The W/N operator allows for retrieval of documents where two terms appear within a specified distance of each other in the same order, making it symmetrical in nature as it considers the phrase from the first term to the second term. Conversely, the NOT W/N operator negates results that include terms spaced apart by a specified distance, but does so with a directionality that makes it asymmetrical; it focuses on the exclusion of the specified terms in a certain order and their proximity, not simply their position in relation to each other. This directional aspect is a defining characteristic of the NOT W/N operator, highlighting how it operates in a way that is different from the more straightforward inclusion-focused function of W/N.