diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index addd55d5..ef40c148 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ def search(q: str, n: Optional[int] = 5, t: Optional[SearchType] = None):
 
     if (t == SearchType.Ledger or t == None) and model.ledger_search:
         # query transactions
-        hits = symmetric_ledger.query(user_query, model.ledger_search)
+        hits, entries = symmetric_ledger.query(user_query, model.ledger_search)
 
         # collate and return results
-        return symmetric_ledger.collate_results(hits, model.ledger_search.entries, results_count)
+        return symmetric_ledger.collate_results(hits, entries, results_count)
 
     if (t == SearchType.Image or t == None) and model.image_search:
         # query transactions
diff --git a/src/search_type/symmetric_ledger.py b/src/search_type/symmetric_ledger.py
index 5243c1aa..814813a1 100644
--- a/src/search_type/symmetric_ledger.py
+++ b/src/search_type/symmetric_ledger.py
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 # Standard Packages
-import json
-import gzip
-import re
 import argparse
 import pathlib
+from copy import deepcopy
 
 # External Packages
 import torch
@@ -62,27 +60,27 @@ def compute_embeddings(entries, bi_encoder, embeddings_file, regenerate=False, v
     return corpus_embeddings
 
 
-def query(raw_query, model: TextSearchModel):
+def query(raw_query, model: TextSearchModel, filters=[]):
     "Search all notes for entries that answer the query"
-    # Separate natural query from explicit required, blocked words filters
-    query = " ".join([word for word in raw_query.split() if not word.startswith("+") and not word.startswith("-")])
-    required_words = set([word[1:].lower() for word in raw_query.split() if word.startswith("+")])
-    blocked_words = set([word[1:].lower() for word in raw_query.split() if word.startswith("-")])
+    # Copy original embeddings, entries to filter them for query
+    query = raw_query
+    corpus_embeddings = deepcopy(model.corpus_embeddings)
+    entries = deepcopy(model.entries)
+
+    # Filter query, entries and embeddings before semantic search
+    for filter in filters:
+        query, entries, corpus_embeddings = filter(query, entries, corpus_embeddings)
+    if entries is None or len(entries) == 0:
+        return [], []
 
     # Encode the query using the bi-encoder
     question_embedding = model.bi_encoder.encode(query, convert_to_tensor=True)
 
     # Find relevant entries for the query
-    hits = util.semantic_search(question_embedding, model.corpus_embeddings, top_k=model.top_k)
-    hits = hits[0]  # Get the hits for the first query
-
-    # Filter results using explicit filters
-    hits = explicit_filter(hits, model.entries, required_words, blocked_words)
-    if hits is None or len(hits) == 0:
-        return hits
+    hits = util.semantic_search(question_embedding, corpus_embeddings, top_k=model.top_k)[0]
 
     # Score all retrieved entries using the cross-encoder
-    cross_inp = [[query, model.entries[hit['corpus_id']]] for hit in hits]
+    cross_inp = [[query, entries[hit['corpus_id']]] for hit in hits]
     cross_scores = model.cross_encoder.predict(cross_inp)
 
     # Store cross-encoder scores in results dictionary for ranking
@@ -93,28 +91,7 @@ def query(raw_query, model: TextSearchModel):
     hits.sort(key=lambda x: x['score'], reverse=True) # sort by biencoder score
     hits.sort(key=lambda x: x['cross-score'], reverse=True) # sort by cross encoder score
 
-    return hits
-
-
-def explicit_filter(hits, entries, required_words, blocked_words):
-    hits_by_word_set = [(set(word.lower()
-                             for word
-                             in re.split(
-                                 r',|\.| |\]|\[\(|\)|\{|\}',
-                                 entries[hit['corpus_id']])
-                             if word != ""),
-                         hit)
-                        for hit in hits]
-
-    if len(required_words) == 0 and len(blocked_words) == 0:
-        return hits
-    if len(required_words) > 0:
-        return [hit for (words_in_entry, hit) in hits_by_word_set
-                if required_words.intersection(words_in_entry) and not blocked_words.intersection(words_in_entry)]
-    if len(blocked_words) > 0:
-        return [hit for (words_in_entry, hit) in hits_by_word_set
-                if not blocked_words.intersection(words_in_entry)]
-    return hits
+    return hits, entries
 
 
 def render_results(hits, entries, count=5, display_biencoder_results=False):