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8/2/2007
Google Search Tips:Advanced Features
By Robin Hartman, Associate LibrarianDarling Library – Hope International
University
Adapted from “A Google Gambol” (Internet Librarian 2003)
Greg Notess, Creator, Search Engine Showdown
& Reference Librarian, Montana State University
Updated by Bethany Ahlberg 8/2/07
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Advanced Features of Google
Fill in the Blanks – “*”DiacriticsQuery modifiersGAPS (proximity search)
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Fill in the Blanks – “*”
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Fill in the Blanks – “*”
You can replace unknown words with an asterisk -
“*”.Google returns results
substituting the “*” with words most
frequently used in the context of the query.
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Use “*” for:
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Possible Uses for “*”
Busted!
Searching out suspected plagiarism.
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Possible Uses for “*”
All spellings of a word will be found.
Including results with common misspellings.
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Possible Uses for “*”
Finding common variations.
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Fun with “*”
Finding parodies.
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Do not use “*” for:
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Fill in the Blanks – “*”
…Google will treat the characters on either side of the “*” like separate keywords.
Replacing a character.
If you try to use “*” to fill in a letter, number, or symbol…
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Diacritics
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If you search for a word with a
diacritic (distinguishing mark) in it…
…will Google return results
with or without the diacritic?
Diacritics
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Diacritics
A search for unité produces results for
both unite and unité.
The answer is:
both!
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Diacritics
To limit your search to only unité, add a “-” followed by unite.
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Diacritics
Notice how the number of results has decreased.
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Query Modifiers
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Query Modifiers
Use these commands in the search window.
intitle: Find sites with one search term in the title.
allintitle: Find sites with all search terms in the title.
inurl: Find sites with one search term in the URL.
allinurl: Find sites with all search terms in the URL.
site: Limit your search to a specific web site.
filetype: Specify a type of document to search.
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Query Modifiers – intitle:
Find sites with one search term in the title.
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Query Modifiers – intitle:
…and ingredient anywhere in the
document.
This search returns sites with the word shampoo in the
title…
Find sites with one search term in the title.
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Query Modifiers – allintitle:
Find sites with ALL search terms in the title.
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Query Modifiers – allintitle:
Notice fewer “hits” when
shampoo AND ingredient
must be found in the title of the
page.
Find sites with all search terms in the title.
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Query Modifiers – inurl:
Find sites with one search term in the URL.
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Query Modifiers – inurl:
…and ingredient anywhere in the
document.
This search returns sites with the word shampoo in the
URL…
Find sites with one search term in the URL.
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Query Modifiers – allinurl:
Find sites with ALL search terms in the URL.
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Query Modifiers – allinurl:
Find sites with all search terms in the URL.
Notice fewer “hits” when
shampoo AND ingredient
must be found in the title of the
page.
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Query Modifiers – site:
Limit your search to a specific web site.
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Example 1
Enter search terms, then
qualifier.
Query Modifiers – site:
Finds elephant race on the Cal State
Fullerton site.
Limit your search to a specific web site.
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Example 2
Enter search
terms, then qualifier.
Query Modifiers – site:
Finds dinosaur on the Smithsonian
Institute site.
Limit your search to a specific web site.
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Example 3
Enter search terms, then
qualifier.
Query Modifiers – site:
Limits search of schwarzenegger to
official California senate pages.
Limit your search to a specific web site.
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Specify a type of document to search.
Query Modifiers – filetype:
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Query Modifiers – filetype:
Specify a type of document to search.
pdf – Adobe readable
files
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Query Modifiers – filetype:
Specify a type of document to search.
pdf – Adobe readable
filesdoc – Microsoft
Word documents
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Query Modifiers – filetype:
Specify a type of document to search.
pdf – Adobe readable
filesdoc – Microsoft
Word documents
mdb – Microsoft Access
databases
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D’oh!
If you get no results from Google Web, try Google Images.
Query Modifiers – filetype:
Specify a type of document to search.
pdf – Adobe readable
filesdoc – Microsoft
Word documents
mdb – Microsoft Access
databasesjpg, gif, tif – graphics and
photos
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Query Modifiers – filetype:
Specify a type of document to search.
pdf – Adobe readable
filesdoc – Microsoft
Word documents
mdb – Microsoft Access
databasesjpg, gif, tif – graphics and
photosppt – Microsoft
PowerPoint presentations
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Key words, plus……site: modifier, plus…
…filetype: modifier……equals…
Voilà!
Search of shampoo ingredient limited to find only PowerPoint
files on official California
government pages.
Using Multiple Query Modifiers
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GAPS by staggernation.com
Searching for all kinds of cookie recipes with chocolate – but not
oatmeal?
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This search will return:
Chocolate chip cookie recipe
Chocolate cookie recipe
Chocolate covered cherry cookie recipe
http://www.staggernation.com
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GAPS by staggernation.comGoogle API Proximity Search
A script that searches Google for two search terms that appear within a certain proximity of each other on a page.
• Studies show that the closer search terms are in proximity, the better chance that the document is relevant to the searcher’s need.
For more info go to: http://www.staggernation.com/gaps/readme.html
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Search Engine Showdown
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Search Engine Showdown
For in depth information on how Google and other web search engines work, go to Greg Notess’ Search Engine Showdown: The User’s Guide to Web Searching at http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/
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See More Google
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See More Google
This is one of three presentations on Google Search Tips. Others include:
Lesser Used FeaturesLesser Used DatabasesAdvanced Functions
