How to search on a search engine?

Answer 1

In years past, searchers needed to include Boolean characters (example, + or - ) into a search to get the best results. As well, before the " " quote marks around search terms were needed to find the words "exactly as written" in the search.

However, Google and other search engines have advanced so much that most Boolean characters and " " quote marks around words aren't necessarily needed. Search engines can find an instance of each word, no matter where they appear on the page. And, in fact, quote marks are often discouraged on usual searches.

For example, search for Perdue Owl, then search for "Perdue Owl", then search for Perdue+OWL. Perdue OWL is Perdue University's help area for English grammar. Each search should have yielded the same results. Try "Richard Young", a common name. Google will often ask if you want to remove the quotes.

But, let's say you don't want everyone named Richard; instead, you only want Richard Z. Young. Then, quote marks will help weed out results missing a middle initial.

Quotes always remain the best way to find a quote, say from a book, article, etc. Try searching, "How do I love thee, Let me count the ways" which is the beginning of one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous poems. Try a quote from Shakespear. Using quote marks is useful if you quoted part of a newspaper article from online, but forgot to write down the source info: article title, author, newspaper name, city and state, date, issue number, page number, etc.