Search Techniques

Common Search Techniques ¹

Save time and focus in on better results

Quotation Marks

Search engine will look for all sites w/ exact phrase.

Ex: “Iraq’s constitution”

Boolean

AND/+

Ex: India AND “child labor” 

      India + “child labor”

NOT/-

Ex: Terrorism NOT “US”

      Terrorism – “US”

OR

Ex: “Anwar Sadat” OR “Anwar el Sedat”

Truncation

                                Ex: terror*)

Will find results with the words terror, terrorism, and terrorist.  

Top search tips ²

·   Stick to one search engine

·   Get to know its advanced features

·   Be as specific as possible

·   Put search term in quotes

·   Use words like “or,” “must appear” or “not”

² “Search engine secrets revealed.” BBC News: Technology. 18 May 2003. British Broadcasting

               Corporation. 3 May 2006. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3033385.stm>.