Google: tips and tricks

1. Google: tips and tricks

2. If you’re just searching for a quick and simple answer, any search engine will do as will the Google homepage with the basic search box.

3. For more complex or specific searches searchers should use the Google Advanced Search page

4. Visualize Your Search Training & Breeds Dogs & Breeds Dogs & training & breeds Dogs & Training

5. With all the words Searching Google “with all of the words”. Google automatically assumes the “and” operator between terms in this field unless specified by the user.

6. The search words appear in bold letters (both terms appear on all the web pages listed)

7. Dogs and Cats Cats Dogs Here is the “and” search visualized.

8. With at least one of the words Searching Google using the “with at least one of the words” field yields different results. This is searching for each term, the equivalent of using the “OR” operator between each.

9. Google displays the user’s search, “dogs OR cats” as displayed in the “search box”. Note the “OR” in capital letters in the search box. The user must use capital letters for the Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT.

10. Dogs OR Cats

11. With the exact phrase Searching Google using “with theexact phrase” binds all the terms together as one term in the exact order entered.

12. The words must be in the exact order entered for a record to be listed (note the quotation marks around “chewing gum” in the Search Box.)

13. “chewing gum”

14. Without the words Using the “without the words” field in a search is the equivalent of using the “not” operator.

15. Note how the search is structured in the search box, quotation marks around “prescription drugs” and a minus sign before Medicare. (Note, the first two hits are highlighted in blue. These are “Sponsored Links”, the sponsors paid to be at the top of the list).

16. “prescription drugs” and insurance -Medicare

17. Automatic Exclusion of Common Words Google automatically excludes common words from being search, such as “where”, “how”, etc. Also excluded are most single letter words. If a single letter or common word is needed in a search, place a “+” plus sign in front of it or enclose in (“”)quote marks with other search terms or by it self. “Star Wars Episode I” or Star Wars Episode +I

18. Whole Word Truncation • Google uses an asterisk “ * ” for a word substitution in a search, i.e. “three * mice”.

19. Words Variations (Stemming) Google now uses stemming technology. When appropriate, it will search not only for your search terms, but also for words that are similar. If you search for pet dietary needs, Google will also search for pet diet needs, and other related variations of the search terms. (note the highlighted text). This will not work with synonyms, i.e., “False teeth” and “dentures.”

20. Similar Word Searching Google will also search for synonyms or similar words in a search. This can be done by using a (~) tilde in front of a word in the search box. Below is a search for “~flatware”.“Silverware” and “Dinnerware” are also highlighted. This feature will not work with multiple word terms, i.e. “false teeth” and “Dentures”.

21. “+” (using the plus sign prevents varied word forms) • Google automatically expands some searches to include different forms of the search term. Should it be advantageous, the user can prevent the results from including those differentiations. The search below highlights “Anti-Virus” as a search term on the results page.

22. By placing a plus sign (+) in front of any term will block any other variations of that term from being searched.

23. Allintitle: (searches all the words in a webpages title) • Using “allintitle:” the user can search only terms that appear in a web pages title.

24. Intitle: (searches one word in the webpage title) • Using “intitle:” search only the term next to the option. Here only the word “library” needs to appear in the title.

25. Allinurl: (searches all the words in the URL ) • Using the “allinurl” option searches all the words but only if they appear in a web site’s URL.

26. Inurl: (searches only one word in the URL ) • Using “inurl:’ will search only one word in the web site’s URL

27. Duplicate Content and Host Crowding • Google filters duplicate results. If the user wishes to find a true estimate of the number of hits for a search, type “&filter=0”at the end of the URL. This will block Google from eliminating Duplicate Content and hits that would not appear because they appear on the same Host.

28. &filter=0 (expanding the search) • Adding “&filter=0” to the URL. Will increase the number of hits to every occurrence of the search terms regardless of duplication or appearance on the same host.

29. When adding the “&filter=0” option the number of hits has increased by over one million.

30. Cache searching Searchers can use the “Cache:” option to find the last snapshot Google took a webpage. This can useful if the webpage has changed or no longer exists.

31. Site: Limit searching by Top Level Domain • To limit a search by domain type use the site: feature. This will limit the search the type of domain specified. (no space between site: and edu)

32. Related: (similar web pages) • Using the “Related:” option with display similar web sites. In the displayed page other search engines are listed.

33. Info: (displays links to Google options) • Using the “info:” option displays link for many other Google options, i.e. cache, similar pages, linked to, etc.

34. Numeric Range Searching A user can also search a Numeric Range by using three periods(…) in the search. This can be useful for searching ranges of dates, dollar amounts or other numerical searches. The user can also use the Numeric Range boxes on the Advanced Search screen.

35. Define: (dictionary) Google can be used as a quick search dictionary by using the “define:” function.

36. Phonebook: Google can also be used as a Residential Phonebook by using the “Phonebook:” feature.

37. Link: (Finding linked websites) Google can also display a list of websites that link to any particular site by using the “link:” feature. This can useful in finding related websites. The user can also use the Links Search box on the Advanced Search screen.

38. Calculator Google can also be used as a calculator by typing in any equation.

39. Conversion table Google can also be use as a conversion table. The user can convert Celsius into Fahrenheit, US dollars into euros, teaspoons in a cup, etc.

40. Package Tracking Google also has a Package Tracking feature that connects the user to the UPS or FedEx package tracking website. Enter a UPS or FedExTracking number in the Search Box.

41. Clicking on the link redirects the user to the Track Shipments information for the package tracking number entered.

42. StockTicker A user can find a Stock Quote by entering a stock symbol in the search box.

43. Area Code Atlas Entering an Area Code displays a link to www.whitepage.com, which includes the city or location of the area code in the description.

44. Clicking on the link will link will redirect the user to a map of the area code.

45. UPC Barcode Search Entering a twelve digit Universal Product Code (UPC) will display a link to the www.upcdatabase.com.

46. Clicking on the link redirects the user to the UPC record for that product.

47. Airline Flight Information Entering a airline name and flight number will display a link to a website that track the status of airline schedules.

48. Clicking on the link redirects the user to information on the status of that flight.

49. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) search Entering a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) will link the user to www.carfax.com and display information on that vehicle.

50. Clicking on the link redirects the user to the record for that vehicle.