Combining Words when Searching

To get more precise results, add more words to the search. With billions of Web pages indexed, adding more words helps to narrow the search results to a better match. Use the most unique words first. Use a minus - to exclude terms.
    Whenever possible, try a phrase search first.

Basic Principle: Use phrase searching whenever possible. Almost all the portals and search engines can do phrase searching -- searching for the words entered adjacent to each other and exactly in the order submitted. Most use double quotes to identify a phrase:
    "this is a phrase"

Examples:
    To Narrow results for a search on apples
    add more words: apples strawberries
    Or use a phrase search: "apple pie recipe"
    Use the - to exclude : apples strawberries -kiwi

Now let's try the Exercises


Last updated on Oct. 28, 2008
©1998-2008 Greg R. Notess, Reference Librarian