Google: The Basic Search
Interface
Intro
- This interface is what 95% of
what most students and other library patrons use when they use
Google.
- Unfortunately, they also
usually use natural language queries rather than the capabilities
available in this interface (See below). which include "AND,"
"OR," "NOT," phrase, and field-searching capabilities.
Search
Functionality
Google has a large and expanding
range of search functionality. Two Cheatsheets are available online
that are worth downloading: Google's own: http://www.google.com/help/cheatsheet.html,
and one from GoogleGuide: http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators_reference.html
- Default search: words are
"ANDed."
- "OR"
(capitalized) can be used between two or more words and/or
phrases.
- "NOT"
is achieved by placing a minus ( -
) sign in front of a word or phrase.
- Searching for synonyms: Placing
the tilde ( ~
) in front of a word forces a search on the word and its synonyms
(that is, if synonyms exist in the datbase for the entered term).
- Phrase searchng can be done by
surrounding a series of words by double quotes (
" "
).
- Field searching capabilities
include:
- filetype:xxx - File types
can be .pdf, .doc, .xls, and more.
- intitle:xxx - Word(s) in a
Web page title.
- allintitle:xxx - Word(s) in
a Web page title.
- allintext:xxx - In the text
of a Web page.
- Limits:
- site:xxx - Web site
address
- domain:xxx - Type of domain
such as .edu, .mil, .gov, .com, .edu
References on
Searching
Be sure to read all three
of these, as they each offer information on tools that can
facilitate more effective and efficient searching.
Basic Search
Interface
