education

1. Google - Other Advanced Search Techniques
 Google features several other search limiters, some
of which are similar to databases [like ProQuest or
Ebsco] and some of which are not

2. Google – Some Common Search Limiters
 Phrase Searching “ “
 Exclude a term -
 Link two terms _ [underscore]
 Site, domain and related search :
 Fill in the Blank Query *
 Search for non-HTML files filetype:
See Google Operators for example searches
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/136861

3. Phrase Searching
This allows searches
for specific phrases
within websites and
pages
Phrase Searching is
a useful technique to
search the texts of
entire websites for a
phrase.

4. Exclude a Term
Use of –
require exclusion of
term
NO space between
symbol and word

5. Link two terms underscore
Use of _
links two terms.
This finds quicksort
or terms linked by
underscore
This finds
quicksort or terms
linked by
underscore
This is a new Google operator,
and really seems to replicate
searching by Boolean operator
AND! We will see how long this
one sticks around.

6. Google Operators Change Every so Often
 As an aside, advanced operators change periodically
with Google. Two that recently were ‘deprecated’
[discontinued] are + [required term in search] and
tilde~ [found related words in a search.
 According to Google:
 The + was discontinued in 2011 [possibly due to
Google+ and confusion with new newwork]
 http://webscripts.softpedia.com/blog/Google-Search-Drops-the-Operator-May-Be-
Linked-to-Google-229458.shtml
 The tilde was discontinued due to decreasing use:
 http://searchengineland.com/google-drops-another-search-operator-tilde-for-synonyms-
164403

7. Site Search
Site search:
Olympic site:.gov
Use : for site search
NO space between :
and .gov

8. Domain Search
Domain search:
Olympics: nytimes.com
Use : for domain search

9. Related search
Related search:
related:newsweek.com
Use : for related search

10. "fill in the blank" query * query
Use * to replace
words in a query [*
replaces word
‘penny’ in search]
This is a useful search not
well-known to beginning users
– good for finding facts and
historical dates, names etc.

11. Search for filetype:
Example search:
global warming filetype:pdf
Non-HTML file types:
http://www.google.com/supp
ort/webmasters/bin/answer.p
y?hl=en&answer=35287
Some examples of documents
to search on Google are .pdf,
PowerPoint, video, Microsoft
Office files, Flash .swf files

12. Some Important Basic Search Tips for Google
 Add relevant words if your search doesn’t bring up
results you want:
 First try: [ puppy ]
More precise: [ puppy training ]
Even more precise: [ dalmatian puppy training class ]
 Use only the important words rather than a full
sentence or question:
 Not ideal: [ country where bats are an omen of good luck ]
Better: [ bats good luck ]

13. Google - Advanced Search Techniques
 Links for Search Techniques [refer to the below for
the following slides]:
 http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1
36861 [Google support for search techniques]
 http://www.internetseer.com/services/article.xtp?id=8472
 [another page for Google Search Techniques]
 http://www.amplify-interactive.com/blog/search-engines/advanced-google-
search-tips/ [good summary of search techniques]