It's Automatic! |
Try It! |
|
AND |
Google's Boolean default is AND. If you enter terms without any modifiers, Google will search for all of your items in the text of pages, in pages that link to a result page, and in other pages on the same site. Notice that use of AND in the example expands the results slightly. |
google pagerank |
STEMMING |
Google will stem some items automatically, which means it will find terms with various endings. |
kite flying Note: results include kite, kites, kiting, flying, fly, and flies. |
STOP words are ignored |
Google ignores common terms (a, on, the, etc.) |
vacation rentals in the woods Note: in and the are excluded from the search |
PUNCTUATION is not ignored |
Google does not ignore the following punctuation: (') apostrophe (-) hyphen accent marks |
Notice your results for each of the following searches: people's same-sex elephant peoples' same sex elephant peoples same-sex elephant |
What is it? |
Why use it? |
Try it! |
|
+ (Google+) |
Searches for Google+ pages | To quickly locate Google+ social pages among search results based on a user's name or handle. | +hillary |
- (Exclude) |
Tells Google to exclude results that include specific terms. | To narrow results to pages that more accurately match query when a specific term is commonly associated with an unrelated topic. |
soup stock -market java coffee -programming |
" " (Quotes) |
Tells Google to match results to an exact phrase. | To narrow results to pages that specifically match phrase query. |
"global climate change" |
OR |
A capital OR used between two terms or phrases tells Google to match results using either one or the other. | To expand search results to pages that match different specified combinations of terms. |
cheese cheddar OR swiss Note: must use capital OR; lowercase or will be treated as a STOP word. |
~ (Synonym) |
Tells Google to query related terms and include them in search results. | To not miss out on some useful results when a specific term is not the only way to express query. |
~ape Note: results include monkey and gorilla |
.. (Number Range) |
Tells Google to look for results falling inside a specified number range. | To convey a range of dates, currency, size, weight, height, etc. specific to query. |
prada pumps size 5..6 "babe ruth" 1921..1935 |
What is it? |
Why use it? |
Try it! |
|
intitle: |
Restricts a search of specified terms to only the title of web pages. | Narrows results dramatically and can increase relevancy. | intitle:mileage "hybrid cars" |
inurl: |
Restricts a search of specified terms to only the URLs of web pages. | Works well for finding search and help pages, also good for searching subdirectories. |
inurl:help "ipod shuffle" |
related: |
Finds sites similar to the website you already know. | Identifies the strongest associations or "major players" in a field or market based on the URL. | related:time.com |
filetype: |
Restricts a search to only suffixes or filename extensions. | Search exclusively by file types such as: .pdf, .doc (Word), .xls (Excel), .ppt (PowerPoint), etc. | filetype:pdf "montessori method" |
What is it? |
Why use it? |
Try it! |
|
link: |
Searches for pages that contain links to the specified URL. | Useful evaluative tool to discover which sites link to a specific page. | link:www.snopes.com |
info: |
Provides information about a specified URL. | Another great evaluative tool. Google will display a list of links to more information on URL. |
info:www.sfmoma.com |
site: |
Restricts search results to a specified URL. | Useful tool for searching within a specified site URL. |
hurricane katrina site:www.sacbee.com |
cache: |
Displays Google's cached (stored) information on specified URL. | For viewing older content on web sites that have changed or disappeared. | cache:www.discover.com |
What is it? |
Try It! |
|
define: |
A dictionary feature that finds web pages and web-based dictionary entries for specified terms, includes related terms and phrases. |
define:internet define: portmanteau Note: when searching for terms without a modifier Google includes a definition link in the blue bar above the search results. |
phonebook: |
A phone number and address lookup feature. |
phonebook: jones 95616 phonebook: stacey's 94105 Note: enter a last name or business name and either a state abbreviation or a zip code. Google will display a full address, phone number and map link when available. |
stocks: |
A direct link feature that takes you to Yahoo! Finance when preceding a stock ticker symbol. |
stocks:EBAY Note: A Google search on stock ticker symbols without a modifier provides brief stock information listed above the search results. |
Adapted from U.C. Davis Libraries
Last modified: December 20, 2010
What is it? |
Try it! |
|
Translation |
Click Translate this page after links to web pages in a foreign language on the Google results page to get a rough translation into English. | |
Calculator |
The Google calculator does basic arithmetic, some advanced math, measures and conversions, and physical constants. For a list of suggested symbols, see www.google.com/help/calculator.html. |
|
|
(2*2)+3 12/3 20% of 150 |
Sqrt(9) Sin(pi/3) 1.21 GW/88 MPH |
|
Number Lookups |
Tracking for UPS, FedEx, USPS: type the tracking number |
|
|
VIN vehicle info, history: type the number |
||
|
UPC product identification: type the code |
||
|
US patent lookup: type the word patent and the number |
||
More Shortcuts |
Area codes (US): type the 3 digit code to see location on map |
|
|
Airport conditions: type the airport code or city and the word airport |
||
|
Flight tracking: type the word airline and the airport |
||
|
Maps: type an address |
||
|
Stock info: type one or more NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ or mutual fund codes |
||
|
White pages: type rphonebook: name address |
||
|
Yellow pages: type bphonebook: name address |
||
|
Zip codes: type a zip code |
||
Adapted from U.C. Davis Libraries
Last modified: December 20, 2010
