Strategy
Google Search Tips
Looking for something - just Google it! How to be more efficient with your Google Searches!
Google Search is defined as a web search engine developed by Google LLC. It is the most used search engine on the World Wide Web across all platforms, handling more than three billion searches each day. We all ‘Google it’, but are we efficient with our keywords when searching? We have all learned – mostly through trial and error – basic keywords to use when doing a Google search. (Keywords are the the words that you type in when searching the web.) Did you know that by adding characters such as quotes or asteriks you can quickly narrow your search? Check out these under-the-hood shortcuts!
Google Tips
- Quotes: Use quotes (“) to search for an exact phrase
- Asterisk: Substitute an asterick (*) within quotes for an unknown word
- Minus: Use a minus (-) to eliminate results containing certain words
- Tilde: Use a tilde (~) before a word to include all of its synonyms
- Double Full Stop: Use a double full stop (..) between two numbers to convey ranges
- Search websites for keywords: Use site: (site:) to search for a keyword only within that particular website
- Define: Use define: (define:) to streamline a dictionary search of a specific word, slang or acronym
- Search images using images (aka reverse image): Find the origin of an image by searching Google Images > select the camera button and either paste the desired image or the URL to the desired image.
- Link: Use link: (link:) to find sites that have linked to a specific URL
For details, go to 9 Google Tricks for Better Search Results.
Students and teachers need to know how to Google like a pro! Teachers, have you specifically taught your students how to do efficiently search the web? The video below uses more complex content in its examples – it is geared for older students or adults.
By Diane Brauner
