Think you're an expert Googler? Whether you're a Google search novice or ninja, we bet there are at least a few tips and tricks that could make your Google search more effective.
Here’s our list of 10 Google search tips and tricks that you might not know exist:
1) Search Tools
You've probably seen the "Show Search Tools" link in the left column of your Google search results. But you may not know that the tools within can help save you pages and pages of headache looking for seemingly impossible to find search results. Here are a few of the tools explained:
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Time
Select search results within the past hour, past week, or define your own custom range. This is ideal for finding the latest news on a particular subject, or looking into the past to find time-specific results.
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Related Searches
Can't find just what you're looking for? See what other people are searching for based on the keywords within your search query.
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Dictionary
Who has time to browse to an online dictionary, let alone walking to the bookshelf and opening a book? Google has solved this problem by offering dictionary results with multiple definitions organized by part of speech, audio pronunciations, synonyms, and web definitions - all easily accessible from your Google search.
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Nearby
This is really handy should you need to find a hardware store, Thai restaurant, or local web designer ;-)
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Translated foreign pages
No time to master 52 languages? Google's got you covered with search results of translated pages from around the globe.
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Verbatim
Standard Google searches make a lot of (usually helpful) assumptions to help give you relevant results. Google fixes misspellings, replaces words with synonyms (e.g.: television / TV), related keywords (e.g: buy flowers / send flowers), words with the same stem (e.g.: fixing / fix), and personalizes search results based on your search history. The Verbatim tool allows you to search for a word or phrase without Google adjusting search results.
2) Advanced Search
Another handy tool sitting right underneath your nose is Google's Advanced Search page.
This page can be found under the Gear menu when you're logged into your Google account. If you're not logged in, you can simply search for "Google Advanced Search" or go directly to: http://www.google.ca/advanced_search
The Advanced Search page allows you to search for "all these words," "this exact word or phrase," "any of these words," and much more. You can filter your results by language, site or domain, file type, usage rights, and more.
3) Operators
Google has a language of operators that allows you to perform advanced searches directly from the Google homepage.
Here are just a few search operators that you might find useful:
- To find search results within a specific website use: site:[website] (e.g.: our process site:www.designbrooklyn.com). Alternately, you can exclude results from a particular site by using the minus sign: -site:[website] (e.g.: history of the world -site:wikipedia.org)
- To search for an entire phrase, place double quotes around the desired words: "[exact phrase]" (e.g.: "I could walk 500 miles" lyrics).
- To include related words, use a tilde symbol before the desired word: "[~word]" (e.g.: best ~colleges near New York)
- To exclude a specific word or phrase from Google’s search use a minus sign before the unwanted word: -[exclude terms from search] (e.g.: jaguar speed -car).
- To search for a number within a range place two periods between starting and ending numbers: [number 1]..[number 2] (e.g.: Yankees stats 2002..2012). Note: numeric search ranges also work with currency (e.g.: digital camera $50-$150).
- To find results with a specific filetype use: filetype:[pdf, doc, jpeg, etc.] (e.g.: funny dog photo filetype:jpg).
- To find text within a webpage's title tag, use: intitle:[word/phrase] (e.g.: Tattoo artist intitle:"Brooklyn").
DB Tip:
Google's search operators are also a great technique to use for all you “ask Google”-ers (Google isn’t Jeeves!). Don’t ask Google questions - instead think how the answer would be phrased and apply search operators to find the best results.
4) Dictionary:
Looking for a quick definition? In addition to Google's more comprehensive Dictionary located in their Search Tools, Google search allows you to find a short definition directly from the search input. Use the format: define:[word] (e.g.: define:best practices)
5) Calculator:
You don’t need to find your calculator, Google’s got your math needs covered. Just enter the calculation you'd like performed into the search input: [calculation=] (e.g.: 5*9+(sqrt 10)^3=)
6) Measurement Converter:
Convert units of measurement, whether currency, metrics, or bytes, by typing “[# of units you have] in [units you want]” into your Google Search (e.g. 14 miles in kilometers)
7) Comparisons
Find out what’s “Better than” “similar to” and “sounds like” your favorites: Type “better than/similar to/sounds like_[keyword or phrase]_” and Google will provide you with a list of results. (e.g.: similar to:Mashable). Note that this isn't actually Google functionality, but a wealth of comparison websites make this a handy tool to have in your arsenal.
8) Track A Package
Type the tracking number for your FedEx, UPS, or USPS package into your Google search and view quick updates on the status of your delivery.
9) Flight Status Tracker
Want to know if your flights running as planned? Type your airline and flight number in the search bar, and Google will shoot you back the arrival and departure times.
10) Weather
Type “weather” with your zip code into the search bar and Google will give you the current weather and future weather forecasts for the given zip code.
Go forth and Google!
We've provided you with a number of tips and tricks to help you find what you're looking for more quickly.
Want to learn more? This is the end of this list, but we haven't even scratched the surface of Google's search capabilities. Take a look at the resources below for even more details and tips:
- 101 tips, tricks and hacks: http://www.techradar.com/us/news/internet/web/101-google-tips-tricks-and-hacks-462143
- Search Basics: http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=134479
- Search Operators: http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=136861
- Google's own tips and tricks: http://www.google.com/insidesearch/tipstricks/index.html
