How to use Google search engine to find "exactly" what you want?

Searching the right way is the key to finding the information you need. Here are few basic and advance techniques to use Google search engine and find exactly what you want.

You can test all search examples live by using below Google search box.

Basic Search terms

if you're looking for general information on Computers, try Computers.

But it's better to use multiple search terms to make the term more meaningful; if you're looking for Computer maintenance related information then you'll do better with the search term computer maintenance than with either Computer or maintenance by themselves. And Computer maintenance Guide may produce even better (or, depending on your perspective, worse) results.

Try the search term computer maintenance and computer maintenance guide and see the results yourself.

Capitalization

Google searches are NOT case sensitive. All letters, regardless of how you type them, will be understood as lower case. For example, searches for computer maintenance, Computer Maintenance, and cOMputeR mAinTeNance will all return the same results.

Automatic "and" queries

By default, Google only returns pages that include all of your search terms. There is no need to include "and" between terms. Keep in mind that the order in which the terms are typed will affect the search results. To restrict a search further, just include more terms. For example, to book a flight to London, simply type flight london.

Exclusion of common words

Google ignores common words and characters such as "where" and "how", as well as certain single digits and single letters, because they tend to slow down your search without improving the results. Google will indicate if a common word has been excluded by displaying details on the results page below the search box.

If a common word is essential to getting the results you want, you can include it by putting a "+" sign in front of it. (Be sure to include a space before the "+" sign.)

Another method for doing this is conducting a phrase search, which simply means putting quotation marks around two or more words. Common words in a phrase search (e.g., "where are you") are included in the search.

For example, to search for Computer troubleshooting for start-up, use:

Computer troubleshooting +startup

~ OR ~ "computer startup troubleshooting"

Word variations

Google uses a technology when appropriate, it will search not only for your search terms, but also for words that are similar to some or all of those terms. If you search for computer hard disk, Google will also search for computer hard drive, and other related variations of your terms. Any variants of your terms that were searched for will be highlighted in the snippet of text accompanying each result.

Phrase searches (exact phase)

Sometimes you'll only want results that include an exact phrase. In this case, simply put quotation marks around your search terms.

Example: "computer software basics"

Phrase searches are particularly effective if you're searching for proper names ("Boeing 777"), lyrics ("Green Green grass of home") etc.

Negative terms

If your search term has more than one meaning (bass, for example, could refer to fishing or music) you can focus your search by putting a minus sign ("-") in front of words related to the meaning you want to avoid.

For example, here's how you'd find pages about bass-heavy lakes, but not bass-heavy music:

bass -music

Note: when you include a negative term in your search, be sure to include a space before the minus sign.

Search engines like Google are constantly trying to improve their search results to produce more relevant results. Hopefully we will not have to use these advance search terms in the near future to find what exactly we want.

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