Features & OperatorsHello Operators

Web Search Lesson PlanModule C1

Google Search OperatorsPowering Up Your Search

What is an Operator?

An operator is a symbol that modifies the words or numbers around it.

You already know some operators!

+

%" " *

_

( )

>

!

$ #

&

Google Search Operators

In search, an operator changes your search query -- often with drastic results!

These operators can help you tweak, refine, and narrow your search.

Search ToolsUsing Operators to Narrow Your Search

Exclusion (-)The minus symbol (-) excludes words from your search results.

Try these searches:

[panthers]

[panthers -sports]

What do you notice?

Inclusion (+)The plus symbol (+) makes sure the word it precedes is used exactly as you entered it.

Try these searches:

[ball][ball+bat]

What do you notice?

Similar Words (~)The tilde symbol (~) includes similar words in your search results.

Try these searches:

[food store]

[~food ~store]

What do you notice?

Specific Document Types• If you’re looking to find results that are of a specific

type, you can use the modifier "filetype:". For example, you might want to find only PowerPoint presentations related to mountains.

• Example Search: “Mountains" filetype:ppt

Phone Listing• Let’s say someone calls you on your mobile number,

and you don’t know who it is. If all you have is a phone number, you can look it up on Google using the phonebook feature.

• Example Search: phonebook:617-555-1212 (Note: The provided number does not work. You’ll have to use a real number to get any results.) Search your phone number

Q&A• Want to know the population of Japan? What

currency is used in Algeria? The birthplace of Gerald Ford. Use Google question and Answer. Ask Google a fact based question by typing it into the Google search box. It will search the web and display the answer at the top of you search results page. It will also link to the Google sources for this information so you can learn even more.

• Example• What is the population of USA?• What currency is used in Norway?

Area Code Lookup• If all you need to do is to look up the area code for a

phone number, just enter the 3-digit area code and Google will tell you where it’s from.

• Example Search: 617• Example Search: 313• Example Search: 404• Example Search: 505

Boolean Searching• Or

• Not

Multiple Words (OR)The Boolean "or" (OR) includes one, the other, or both words in your search results.

Try these searches:

[curl straighten hair]

[curl OR straighten hair]

What do you notice?

Number Range (..)The dot-dot symbol (..) includes a range of numbers in your search results.

Try these searches:

[world series 1965]

[world series 1965..1973]

What do you notice?

Fill-in-the-Blank (*)The star or asterisk symbol (*) leaves space for a missing word in your search results.

Try these searches:

[dark and night]

[dark and * night]

What do you notice?

Exact Phrase (" ")Double quotes (" ") include only the exact phrase -- the exact words in the exact order you entered them -- in your search results.

Try these searches:

[alexander g bell]

["alexander g bell"]

What do you notice?

Putting It All Together

Source: http://www.cashedge.com/pressRoom/news_070104_bst.html

• Exclusion (-)

• Inclusion (+)

• Similar Words (~)

• Multiple Words (OR)

• Number Range (..)

• Fill-in-the-Blank (*)

• Exact Phrase (" ")

Can you think of particular examples when these search operators could help you?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

"One-Box" Search FeaturesGoogle has learned there are certain kinds of things that people search for all the time.

Movie times. Weather forecasts. Sports scores. Local restaurants. Zip codes.

That's why Google has built-in "one-box" search features to help you find exactly what you need... right on the search results page. Let's learn a few shortcuts to help you locate "one-box" results.

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Weather

See the four-day weather forecast for many US and worldwide cities.

Try these searches:

[weather 90210]

[weather Miami]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

TimeSee the local time for many cities around the world.

Try these searches:

[time London]

[time Hong Kong]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

SportsSee recent scores for your favorite sports team.

Try these searches:

[boston red sox]

[new york yankees]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

BusinessesSee stores and shops in your area.

Try these searches:

[thai food 94305]

[bookstore queens ny]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

MoviesSee movie show times for your area, then sort by specific movie, theater, or date.

Try these searches:

[movies 50301]

[movies seattle wa]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Zip CodesSee the city name and map of the zip code you're looking for.

Try these searches:

[77010]

[44123]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

CalculatorUse the Google Search bar as a calculator.

Try these searches:

[224.6 + 791 + 3]

[89 * 27]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

ConversionsUse the Google Search bar to convert units, measurements, or currencies.

Try these searches:

[100 dollars in pesos]

[5 gallons in ounces]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Spell CheckUse the Google Search bar as a spell-checker.

Try these searches:

[cemetary]

[neccesary]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

DictionarySee the definition of a word or phrase.

Try these searches:

[define right of way]

[define nebulous]

What do you notice?

Google Confidential and Proprietary

FlightsCheck the status of an airline flight -- origin, destination, and take off and landing times.

Try these searches:

[american 45]

[continental 32]

What do you notice?

Search like a Pro

1. Define: • Xenophobe• Superfluous• Ambivalent• Abhorrent• Tell me the definition of each

work and use it in a sentence.

2. Weather in:• New York, NY• Fort Peck, Mt 59223• Duck Lake, SK Canada• Qinghai, China

3. Tell me the presidents between 1920 and 1980

4. What is answer to the following math questions:

• 586*20-570+280=• 12678/200*500=• 24*3*66*19*18+55*40/24=

• Send the answers to the following to me with the SUBJECT: Pro

This lesson was developed by:Trent MaverickTasha Bergson-Michelson

 

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