By: Matthew Palumbo
Proper search syntax for the following queries using the Google search engine
1. How would you search for an exact word or phrase?
Phrase searching, this involves putting quotations before and after the word. i.e. “quote”
2. How would you search for something on a specific site?
Use the advanced operator: site, for example admissions site: http://www.stanford.edu
(search Stanford university site for admissions information).
You can utilize the search function on the site.
You can use ctrl+f to find the word/phrase on the page of the site.
3. How would you correctly search for a definition?
Google’s hidden dictionary is pulled from multiple internet dictionaries.
Use the syntax DEFINE: before the term that you want to define.
An alternative approach is typing the word followed by the word definition.
Additional features when google provides a definition snippet.
Select the speaker icon to hear how the word is pronounced.
Select translations, word origin, and more definitions to learn more about the word.
Use the search field to search for other dictionary words.
The official google dictionary extension is one of the popular chrome extensions. Users can highlight a word and select the google dictionary browser on the web page to open a pop up window that contains the definition off that word.
4. How would you search for a specific product available within a specific price range?
#..# – Search within a range of numbers. For example DVD player 100..150.
5. How would you search for a specific filetype?
Use filetype.directive. Type filetype: File Extension ex. Ryerson University filetype:pdf
6. How would you include or ignore words in your search?
If you want specific words in your query you do this with + operator.
Include a space before the + sign but not after it.
You may want to exclude words from your search using – operator. Any word in your query preceded by the – sign is automatically excluded from search result,
If you want bass but not fish type bass – fish.
7. How would you find sites/pages similar to an existing one?
Use advanced operator Related: http://www.stanford.edu
8. How would you confirm the exact form of a quote even if you were missing some of the words?
Use an asterisk within quotes to specify unknown or variable words. Searching a phrase in quotes with an asterisk replacing a word will search all variations of that phrase. It is particularly helpful trying to figure out lyrics from songs but do not know the entire phrase. For example if you couldn’t make out the entire phrase (e.g. “imagine all the *living for today”, or if you’re trying to find all forms of an expression (e.g. “* is thicker than water”).
9. How would search for pages containing one or another search term?
Use intitle: “the term you want” this will pull pages with that search term in the title.
10.How would you search for social media content containing a specific tag?
Use the @ symbol before the word or phrase in the social media platform’s search function. The social media platform will show you a list of where the tag is being used.
The social searcher website finds tags and sorts them into 3 categories: mentions, users and trends. There is a special function called tagboard that searches tags from all social media network and displays the results in a user friendly manner.
Also, google advanced search can find relevant tags.
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