answersLogoWhite

0

HOW TO NARROW YOUR SEARCH ON A SEARCH ENGINE

Like me, you probably use search engines everyday to find information on the internet. In order to get the best use out of the search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask, there are a few things that you should know and a couple of useful tricks that will lend to a more efficient search and help you find what you are looking for faster and easier.

One of the main problems when using a search engine is that people end up with these really long lists of results, some of which are not really relevant to the information you were searching for to begin with. The trick is understanding how the search engines work - then you will be able to use them in such a way to produce information result lists that are significantly shorter and more relevant.

The search engines work by looking for matches to the keywords that you type in. They search their indexes for matches and then produce results in the form of a list of hits. There are some great tricks you can use in the main search window box to narrow your search results.

1) Use more than one word when typing in the main search window. For example, don't just enter the word "steak" as you will get results on absolutely everything to do with the word steak. Instead enter "how long to grill a half inch steak" and you will most likely get specific information like recipes on how to cook steak.

2) Request specific words only by putting a "+" or a "-" in front of your search word. The "+" will allow only web pages that have that search word and the "-" will not allow web pages that have that word.

3) Use words that are unusual. A common mistake that everyone seems to do is to type in the most common search word that is associated with the information they are trying to find. You are better of typing in words that are popular to do with your topic but that rarely show up together in other contexts. This will definitely narrow your results to the most relevant pages.

4) Search your results list. After you get that really long list of relevant and not so relevant hits, you should then find the feature "Search within results" (usually found at the bottom of the page) and add even more search terms to thin out your results lists even more.

5) Use the "Search Settings" located at the top right hand corner of your Google home page. You can personalize these settings by setting the language, number of hits per page, specific date range and other criteria that will help to streamline your results lists.

6) Utilize the search engine help files. The main search engines will have really helpful written pages that will assist your searches. In particular, Google has tips for searching within a single website, for searching blogs, images, videos, books and translating documents. There is also a shopping engine to assist you in finding the best deals on merchandise and a whole lot more.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What is exact phrase search?

Exact phrase search is a search technique that allows users to find results containing a specific sequence of words in the exact order they are entered. It is typically used by enclosing the phrase in quotation marks, which signals to the search engine to return only those results that match the phrase precisely. This method helps to narrow down search results and improve relevance, especially when looking for specific quotes, titles, or key terms.


What is the function of indexer part of the Google Search engine?

It helps to generate meaningful results based upon the user's search term.


SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving a website's visibility and ranking in search engines. It helps search engines understand a website's content and helps users find the site through search results. 


What helps locate webpages?

A search engine.


What helps you locate webpages?

A search engine.


What is the purpose of using - sign in a search?

Using a minus sign in a search query helps to exclude specific terms from the search results. This can be useful for refining search results by filtering out unwanted information or results that are not relevant to the query.


When you limit your database search to subject you will be doing what?

When you limit your database search to subject, you are focusing on retrieving information specifically related to a certain topic or category within the database. This helps you to narrow down the results to only those that are relevant to your particular area of interest or study.


What is the significance of the keyword "ir.title" in the context of information retrieval systems?

The keyword "ir.title" is significant in information retrieval systems because it specifies that the search should be conducted within the titles of documents. This helps narrow down search results and improve the relevance of the information retrieved.


Are all search results from google.es returned in Spanish?

No, not all search results from google.es are returned in Spanish. Sometimes, when you search terms (like "English") The results will be in English, or other languages. I hope this helps.


What is the position of SEO?

SEO is the process of modifying your website so that search engines can figure out what it is about. This helps to increase your position inside search engine results pages. Link Building and On-page Optimization are the 2 primary ways to increase your ranking. SEO is the process and practice of optimizing your website so that it ranks well on search engine results pages (or SERPs). When someone types a word or phrase into search engines (like Google) looking for your product, you want to appear on the first or second page of the search results.


Is it true to ensure that you find onlyb relevant information it is necessary to use search methods such as Boolean operators?

Yes, using Boolean operators is an effective way to refine search results and ensure you find relevant information. By combining keywords with operators like AND, OR, and NOT, you can narrow down or expand your search criteria, leading to more targeted results. This method helps filter out irrelevant information and enhances the efficiency of your search.


What is so special about google uk?

It is an online search engine that is completely 100% free. It helps when looking up stuff and things and whatnot. You will find results for everything.