my $sql = qq{SELECT * FROM $table WHERE (MATCH(Author) AGAINST('+herman +melville' IN BOOLEAN MODE)) order by Title}; #### my $sql = qq{SELECT * FROM $table WHERE (MATCH(Author) AGAINST('? ?' IN BOOLEAN MODE)) order by Title}; $ding -> execute("+herman", "+melville") or die DBI->errstr; #### my $sql = qq{SELECT * FROM $table WHERE (MATCH(Author) AGAINST(?)) order by Title}; $ding -> execute("\'+herman +melville\' IN BOOLEAN MODE") or die DBI->errstr;