Ten useful google search tips

Google has many features which are not commonly known. Check out some of these useful and sometimes obscure tips.


1. OR:
If any one of the keywords you type in is acceptable use OR.
For example : Printer OR Canon OR Laser will return searches for either the individual keywords or combinations of them.

2. Parentheses:
If you definitively want a specific word to appear along with either one or all of the other words use parentheses.
Example: Netgear (Router Or Wireless)
This will return all entries with Netgear along with either one or both the other words.

3. – negative sign:
If you want to specify that a particular term must not appear in the search, use a negative sign.
For example: Computer Laptops - Dell
This will search for Computer, Laptop but will exclude all searches with the word Dell.

4. Intitle:
This command picks up only searches from the titles of web pages.
For example: title: “Joseph Mitchell” picks up only websites with the word Joseph Mitchell on the title page.

5. Intext:
This searches only the body copy of the web page.
Example : intext: “climate change” returns websites with the words climate change in the body copy.

6. Define:
This will get the definition of the word or phrase you enter.
Example : define: marketing
This gives you various definitions of the word marketing

7. Safe search:
If you want to filter out adult content from your searches google has a filter option. Go to Preferences and under Safe Search Filtering select the level of filter you want. You can choose between strict filtering, moderate filtering and no filtering.
Another way to filter content is to go “Advanced Search’. You have the option to enter words which will not be allowed in the search results.

8. Calculator:
The google search box can also be used as a calculator.
Example : 25*10 will return a result of 250
65kgs in lbs will return a result of 143.30047 lbs

Try out the various ways n which this calculator can be sued

9. Currency Convertor:
Google allows you to convert currencies using the search bar.
Example: If you type 10 USD in Euros google will convert and show the number of Eiros.

10. Vertical search:
Google allows you to search in a specialized field rather than across a wide range of web pages. These include :

Blog Search : http://blogsearch.google.com/
Book Search: http://books.google.com/
Catalogs search: http://catalogs.google.com/
Directory: http://www.google.com/dirhp
News: http://news.google.com/
Product search: http://www.google.com/products
Video: http://video.google.com/