diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index b30d5c7..ebedc1f 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 - Mention key-only feature requests in README (#342 thanks to @joostschouppe)
 - Merge any columns in `osmdata_sf()` with mixed-case duplicated names (#348)
 - Set encoding to UTF-8 for tags and user names (#347)
+- Document the use of the input query as character strings for `osmdata_*()` (#349)
 
 
 0.2.5
diff --git a/R/get-osmdata-df.R b/R/get-osmdata-df.R
index 3c1dcbc..bc7c34b 100644
--- a/R/get-osmdata-df.R
+++ b/R/get-osmdata-df.R
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 #'
 #' @inheritParams osmdata_sp
 #' @param q An object of class `overpass_query` constructed with
-#'      \link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.
+#'      \link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+#'      as `"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"`.
 #'      May be be omitted, in which case the attributes of the \link{data.frame}
-#'      will not include the query.
+#'      will not include the query. See examples below.
 #' @param stringsAsFactors Should character strings in the 'data.frame' be
 #'      coerced to factors?
 #' @return A `data.frame` with id, type and tags of the the objects from the
@@ -27,6 +28,24 @@
 #' attr (hampi_df, "bbox")
 #' attr (hampi_df, "overpass_call")
 #' attr (hampi_df, "meta")
+#'
+#' # Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+#' q <- '[out:csv(::type, ::id, "name:ca", "wikidata")][timeout:50];
+#'     area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+#'
+#'     rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+#'     map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+#'
+#'     ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+#'     is_in;
+#'     area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+#'
+#'     (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+#'     rel(pivot);
+#'     out tags;'
+#'
+#' no_townhall <- osmdata_data_frame (q)
+#' no_townhall
 #' }
 osmdata_data_frame <- function (q,
                                 doc,
diff --git a/R/get-osmdata-sc.R b/R/get-osmdata-sc.R
index 8aeb1a3..71ce041 100644
--- a/R/get-osmdata-sc.R
+++ b/R/get-osmdata-sc.R
@@ -16,6 +16,25 @@
 #' hampi_sf <- opq ("hampi india") %>%
 #'     add_osm_feature (key = "historic", value = "ruins") %>%
 #'     osmdata_sc ()
+#'
+#' # Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+#' q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+#'     area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+#'
+#'     rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+#'     map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+#'
+#'     ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+#'     is_in;
+#'     area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+#'
+#'     (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+#'     rel(pivot);
+#'     (._;>;);
+#'     out;'
+#'
+#' no_townhall <- osmdata_sc (q)
+#' no_townhall
 #' }
 osmdata_sc <- function (q, doc, quiet = TRUE) {
 
@@ -76,7 +95,7 @@ osmdata_sc <- function (q, doc, quiet = TRUE) {
     )
 
     has_tags <- c ("nodes", "relation_properties", "object")
-    obj [has_tags] <- lapply(obj [has_tags], function (x) {
+    obj [has_tags] <- lapply (obj [has_tags], function (x) {
         x [, c ("key", "value")] <- setenc_utf8 (x [, c ("key", "value")])
         x
     })
diff --git a/R/get-osmdata-sf.R b/R/get-osmdata-sf.R
index 0e94d95..f743e12 100644
--- a/R/get-osmdata-sf.R
+++ b/R/get-osmdata-sf.R
@@ -15,6 +15,25 @@
 #' hampi_sf <- opq ("hampi india") %>%
 #'     add_osm_feature (key = "historic", value = "ruins") %>%
 #'     osmdata_sf ()
+#'
+#' # Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+#' q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+#'     area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+#'
+#'     rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+#'     map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+#'
+#'     ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+#'     is_in;
+#'     area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+#'
+#'     (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+#'     rel(pivot);
+#'     (._;>;);
+#'     out;'
+#'
+#' no_townhall <- osmdata_sf (q)
+#' no_townhall
 #' }
 osmdata_sf <- function (q, doc, quiet = TRUE, stringsAsFactors = FALSE) { # nolint
 
diff --git a/R/get-osmdata-sp.R b/R/get-osmdata-sp.R
index f1d08bb..e74c30f 100644
--- a/R/get-osmdata-sp.R
+++ b/R/get-osmdata-sp.R
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 #' format.
 #'
 #' @param q An object of class `overpass_query` constructed with
-#'      \link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.
+#'      \link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+#'      as `"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"`.
+#'      39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475
 #'      May be be omitted, in which case the \link{osmdata} object will not
-#'      include the query.
+#'      include the query. See examples below.
 #' @param doc If missing, `doc` is obtained by issuing the overpass query,
 #'        `q`, otherwise either the name of a file from which to read data,
 #'        or an object of class \pkg{xml2} returned from \link{osmdata_xml}.
@@ -21,6 +23,25 @@
 #' hampi_sp <- opq ("hampi india") %>%
 #'     add_osm_feature (key = "historic", value = "ruins") %>%
 #'     osmdata_sp ()
+#'
+#' # Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+#' q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+#'     area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+#'
+#'     rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+#'     map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+#'
+#'     ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+#'     is_in;
+#'     area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+#'
+#'     (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+#'     rel(pivot);
+#'     (._;>;);
+#'     out;'
+#'
+#' no_townhall <- osmdata_sp (q)
+#' no_townhall
 #' }
 osmdata_sp <- function (q, doc, quiet = TRUE) {
 
diff --git a/R/get-osmdata-xml.R b/R/get-osmdata-xml.R
index 90bd49d..6cd5d33 100644
--- a/R/get-osmdata-xml.R
+++ b/R/get-osmdata-xml.R
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 #' or a raw vector.
 #'
 #' @param q An object of class `overpass_query` constructed with
-#' \link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.
+#'   \link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+#'   as `"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"`. See examples below.
 #' @param filename If given, OSM data are saved to the named file
 #' @param quiet suppress status messages.
 #' @param encoding Unless otherwise specified XML documents are assumed to be
@@ -23,6 +24,24 @@
 #' q <- opq ("hampi india")
 #' q <- add_osm_feature (q, key = "historic", value = "ruins")
 #' osmdata_xml (q, filename = "hampi.osm")
+#'
+#' # Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+#' q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+#'     area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+#'
+#'     rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+#'     map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+#'
+#'     ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+#'     is_in;
+#'     area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+#'
+#'     (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+#'     rel(pivot);
+#'     out tags;'
+#'
+#' no_townhall <- osmdata_xml (q)
+#' no_townhall
 #' }
 osmdata_xml <- function (q, filename, quiet = TRUE, encoding) {
 
diff --git a/man/osmdata_data_frame.Rd b/man/osmdata_data_frame.Rd
index 72b5351..1235c49 100644
--- a/man/osmdata_data_frame.Rd
+++ b/man/osmdata_data_frame.Rd
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ osmdata_data_frame(q, doc, quiet = TRUE, stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{q}{An object of class \code{overpass_query} constructed with
-\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.
+\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+as \code{"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"}.
 May be be omitted, in which case the attributes of the \link{data.frame}
-will not include the query.}
+will not include the query. See examples below.}
 
 \item{doc}{If missing, \code{doc} is obtained by issuing the overpass query,
 \code{q}, otherwise either the name of a file from which to read data,
@@ -42,6 +43,24 @@ hampi_df <- opq ("hampi india") \%>\%
 attr (hampi_df, "bbox")
 attr (hampi_df, "overpass_call")
 attr (hampi_df, "meta")
+
+# Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+q <- '[out:csv(::type, ::id, "name:ca", "wikidata")][timeout:50];
+    area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+
+    rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+    map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+
+    ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+    is_in;
+    area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+
+    (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+    rel(pivot);
+    out tags;'
+
+no_townhall <- osmdata_data_frame (q)
+no_townhall
 }
 }
 \seealso{
diff --git a/man/osmdata_sc.Rd b/man/osmdata_sc.Rd
index 6c4b447..71d6716 100644
--- a/man/osmdata_sc.Rd
+++ b/man/osmdata_sc.Rd
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ osmdata_sc(q, doc, quiet = TRUE)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{q}{An object of class \code{overpass_query} constructed with
-\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.
+\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+as \code{"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"}.
+39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475
 May be be omitted, in which case the \link{osmdata} object will not
-include the query.}
+include the query. See examples below.}
 
 \item{doc}{If missing, \code{doc} is obtained by issuing the overpass query,
 \code{q}, otherwise either the name of a file from which to read data,
@@ -36,6 +38,25 @@ recommended for use only if you really know what you're doing.
 hampi_sf <- opq ("hampi india") \%>\%
     add_osm_feature (key = "historic", value = "ruins") \%>\%
     osmdata_sc ()
+
+# Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+    area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+
+    rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+    map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+
+    ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+    is_in;
+    area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+
+    (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+    rel(pivot);
+    (._;>;);
+    out;'
+
+no_townhall <- osmdata_sc (q)
+no_townhall
 }
 }
 \seealso{
diff --git a/man/osmdata_sf.Rd b/man/osmdata_sf.Rd
index 85f747f..202dfeb 100644
--- a/man/osmdata_sf.Rd
+++ b/man/osmdata_sf.Rd
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ osmdata_sf(q, doc, quiet = TRUE, stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{q}{An object of class \code{overpass_query} constructed with
-\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.
+\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+as \code{"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"}.
+39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475
 May be be omitted, in which case the \link{osmdata} object will not
-include the query.}
+include the query. See examples below.}
 
 \item{doc}{If missing, \code{doc} is obtained by issuing the overpass query,
 \code{q}, otherwise either the name of a file from which to read data,
@@ -35,6 +37,25 @@ format.
 hampi_sf <- opq ("hampi india") \%>\%
     add_osm_feature (key = "historic", value = "ruins") \%>\%
     osmdata_sf ()
+
+# Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+    area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+
+    rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+    map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+
+    ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+    is_in;
+    area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+
+    (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+    rel(pivot);
+    (._;>;);
+    out;'
+
+no_townhall <- osmdata_sf (q)
+no_townhall
 }
 }
 \seealso{
diff --git a/man/osmdata_sp.Rd b/man/osmdata_sp.Rd
index 71cdbaf..479b4e0 100644
--- a/man/osmdata_sp.Rd
+++ b/man/osmdata_sp.Rd
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ osmdata_sp(q, doc, quiet = TRUE)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{q}{An object of class \code{overpass_query} constructed with
-\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.
+\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+as \code{"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"}.
+39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475
 May be be omitted, in which case the \link{osmdata} object will not
-include the query.}
+include the query. See examples below.}
 
 \item{doc}{If missing, \code{doc} is obtained by issuing the overpass query,
 \code{q}, otherwise either the name of a file from which to read data,
@@ -32,6 +34,25 @@ format.
 hampi_sp <- opq ("hampi india") \%>\%
     add_osm_feature (key = "historic", value = "ruins") \%>\%
     osmdata_sp ()
+
+# Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+    area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+
+    rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+    map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+
+    ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+    is_in;
+    area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+
+    (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+    rel(pivot);
+    (._;>;);
+    out;'
+
+no_townhall <- osmdata_sp (q)
+no_townhall
 }
 }
 \seealso{
diff --git a/man/osmdata_xml.Rd b/man/osmdata_xml.Rd
index 54706f9..874acb3 100644
--- a/man/osmdata_xml.Rd
+++ b/man/osmdata_xml.Rd
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ osmdata_xml(q, filename, quiet = TRUE, encoding)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{q}{An object of class \code{overpass_query} constructed with
-\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query.}
+\link{opq} and \link{add_osm_feature} or a string with a valid query, such
+as \code{"(node(39.4712701,-0.3841326,39.4713799,-0.3839475);); out;"}. See examples below.}
 
 \item{filename}{If given, OSM data are saved to the named file}
 
@@ -38,6 +39,24 @@ Objects of class \code{xml_document} can be saved as \code{.xml} or
 q <- opq ("hampi india")
 q <- add_osm_feature (q, key = "historic", value = "ruins")
 osmdata_xml (q, filename = "hampi.osm")
+
+# Complex query as a string (not possible with regular osmdata functions)
+q <- '[out:xml][timeout:50];
+    area["name"="Països Catalans"][boundary=political]->.boundaryarea;
+
+    rel(area.boundaryarea)[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative];
+    map_to_area -> .all_level_8_areas;
+
+    ( nwr(area.boundaryarea)["amenity"="townhall"];>;);
+    is_in;
+    area._[admin_level=8][boundary=administrative] -> .level_8_areas_with_townhall;
+
+    (.all_level_8_areas; - .level_8_areas_with_townhall;);
+    rel(pivot);
+    out tags;'
+
+no_townhall <- osmdata_xml (q)
+no_townhall
 }
 }
 \seealso{