A CONNECTIONS Person Search can be done either phonetically or as an exact search. A phonetic search, based solely on a name, is generally a good first search. It will return a broad set of results and is likely to include the intended person. To narrow a phonetic search, you can add search criteria or parameters, for example, sex, date of birth, or ethnicity. An exact search is more narrow. In an exact search, the results will be limited according to the specific criteria entered. An exact search is useful when you know specific identifiers about an individual, like a Person ID number, and know that they have been entered into the system.