Use Google Advanced Search Tricks
If you think that Google is just another simple search engine, think again. There are numerous tricks that are waiting just around the corner. Just leap into the wonderful world of possibilities in Google.
Steps
- When you first go to 'Google.com', you don't see much. It looks like a very simple search engine. In actuality it is but it can be used for much more. Over to the right of the search box, there are three links: Advanced Search, Preferences, and Language Search.
- Advanced Search - If you press Advanced Search, a page comes up with many different options.
- In the box labeled "All these words" is your standard search box like the one on the front page.
- The box "this exact wording or phrase" doesn't contain words in the middle of a sentence. It will surround the words with quotes "". For example, if you type in "wikiHow is Awesome" in the this exact wording or phrase box, the search won't include a page with "Is wikiHow useful? Many people asked do think it is useful and awesome" but will include "wikiHow is Awesome. This is why I think so."
- The "one or more of these words" box let's you look up something or something else instead but it won't find the two search terms together. For instance, you could search with the box "Chicken OR Gravy" the search would include pages about chicken and others about gravy.
- The next box is the "unwanted words" box. This box lets you not include certain words in your search. This box puts a - before the word. For example, if you search for "Bass" as in the fish, you could type in "Bass -Sing" to find pages that have Bass in them and not about singing.
- Below the boxes, you can choose how many results you want in your search in the drop down box "Results per Page"
- "Language" which lets you choose which language you want the search results to be. This option isn't very necessary. If you search an English word, then you will probably get English.
- "File Type" let's you select which kind of file you want the search result to be. So if you want to find .pdf files then you would select Adobe Acrobat PDF.
- "Search within a site or domain" lets you search inside a certain website or a extension like ".edu"
- If you want more than open up "Date, usage rights, numeric range, and more
- Once you're done, then press advanced search to see your search results and Google on!
Tips
- You don't need the advanced page to advance search. Just use the "" to search with exact wording. OR for one or more of these words. - to exclude a word
- If you want to use experimental search ideas go to the top right corner of the page, then click more, click even more for a list of Google products. Click "Labs" for beta products. Click the "Experimental Search" link. Mess around with the experimental searches as much as you want. You can even search and see results on maps or timelines.
