diff --git a/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.html b/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.html
index 9ee94ad5..b95e98a4 100644
--- a/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.html
+++ b/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.html
@@ -28,24 +28,19 @@
         <div class="header">
             Suggestions...
             <div>
-                Created by:
+                Created by (prepend "-" to negate):
                 <button class="suggestion-button" (click)="addToSearch('@' + _sample_user)">
                     @{{_sample_user}}
                 </button>
             </div>
             <div *ngIf="tags[0]">
-                Tag:
+                Tag (prepend "-" to negate):
                 <span *ngFor="let tag of tags.slice(0,3)">
                     <button class="suggestion-button" (click)="addToSearch('#' + tag)">
                         #{{tag}}
                     </button>
                 </span>
-                
-    
             </div>
-            <div>
-            </div>
-        </div>
         <mat-divider></mat-divider>
         <div class="header">
             Examples:
diff --git a/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.ts b/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.ts
index 4e196a86..7a7f243c 100644
--- a/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.ts
+++ b/scilog/src/app/logbook/core/search-window/search-window.component.ts
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ export class SearchWindowComponent implements OnInit {
   addToSearch(val: string) {
     let _stringParts = val.split(" ");
     _stringParts.forEach((subVal) => {
-      if (!this.searchString.includes(subVal)) {
-        this.searchString = subVal + " " + this.searchString;
+      if (!this.searchString?.includes(subVal)) {
+        this.searchString = `${subVal} ${this.searchString ?? ''}`;
       }
     }
     );