Google Search Tips and Shortcuts
Last updated:
May 08, 2009
In
February, Hitwise
reported that Google's U.S. market share was 72.11 percent, compared to
Yahoo Search (17.04 percent), MSN Search (5.56 percent) and Ask.com (3.74 percent). In other
countries, Google market share is even higher, for example 96 percent in
Belgium and 89 percent in Argentina. Google Web search is so popular is that is offers fast and powerful
searches, plus it has a simple Web page that is quick to load and
easy to use. While Google produces fast search results, there several quick and easy
shortcuts that will
help improve your Google searches.
Area Code:
You can search for the geographical location to any U.S. and many other
country codes by typing the 3-digit area code into the search box.
Example Search: 876
Book Search
To search for book text, simply use the word "book"
in front of your search phrase. This will remove non-book related search
results.
Example Search:
book The Lord of the Rings
Calculator:
Google has a built-in calculator
function. To use it, simply type the equation in the search box.
Example Search:
5*4+6/2
Conversions: Google
can also convert between many units of measurement of height, weight,
and volume. To use unit conversion type in your conversion, using unites
like cm in inches, CAD in USD to see foreign exchange rates, or even C
ion F for temperature conversion.
Example
Search:
15 cm in inches (or)
25 CAD in USD (or)
12 C in F
Definitions
If you'ee looking for a definition of a word, you
can see all dictionary results by typing the word define in front of the
search term. The first search result is "Web Definitions".
Clicking on this link will show all definitions of the word you searched
for on the Web.
Example
Search: define technology
File Type restriction
If you're looking for a specific file type — for
example a PDF file — you can use "filetype:" after the search term and
the file abbreviation.
Example Search: virtualization filetype:pdf
Local Search
Google
makes it easy to search for local businesses. To use the local search
you simply enter a search phrase (such as restaurant) followed by the zip
or postal code. The first search result will show the location on a
small Google Map and provide links for all businesses found in that
location that match your search.
Example
Search: restaurants 06790
Package Tracking
You can track a UPS, Fedex or USPS package from
Google. Simply enter in your package shipment number in the search box
to get package and delivery information.
Example Search: 1Z9999W99999999999
Related Pages
You can use "related:" in front of a Web URL to see
a list of pages that Google sees as having content related to the URL
you are searching.
Example Search: related:www.webopedia.com
Safe Search:
To search Google and exclude adult content, you simply type "safesearch:"
before your search phrase.
Example Search: safesearch:breast feeding
Site Info
To find out more information about a specific Web
site, you can use "info:" followed by the domain name.
Example Search: info:www.webopedia.com
Site Search
To see results only from one Web site, you can use
"site:"[URL] "phrase". If we wanted to find all information in Webopedia
related to "CPU" we would use site:webopedia.com "CPU". The
Google search results will only show matching results found via
www.webopedia.com in this search. For e-commerce sites, you can select
"Shopping" instead the the default "Web" results. This would bring up
the Products view for the domain.
Example
Search: site:webopedia.com "CPU"
Stock Quotes: Simply
type a company's ticker symbol into the Google search box to see current
market data. To see current market results for Microsoft, for example
type MSFT into the search box. The first search result shows current
stock prices, open, high, and low figures plus links to see see data for
that company via Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, MSN Money, AOL Finance,
CNN Money, and Reuters.
Example Search:
MSFT (or any ticker
symbol)
Synonym Search
If you want to include
synonyms in your search results, you simply use the ~ character in front
of your search phrase.
Example Search:
~healthy food
Time: When trying to figure out time zones and what time it is in
another part of the world, you simply need to type time followed by the
name of the city in the search box. The first Google result will show
the current local time of all cities with the name you entered. If you
use Washington, for example, you will see the time for Washington D.C.,
and Washington, United Kingdom.
Example Search:
time Washington (or
any city name)
Weather: To look up your local weather forecast type the word
"weather" followed by your city and state or province. The first search
result will show current conditions plus show a brief 4-day outlook for
the city you have entered.
Example Search: weather New York, NY
(or any city and state/province)
Quick Tip: Google search results are returned faster if you hit the
Enter key instead of clicking the Search button beside the search box!
Based in Nova Scotia, Vangie Beal is has been
writing about technology for more than a decade. She is a frequent
contributor to
Ecommerce-Guide and
managing editor at
Webopedia. You can
tweet her online @AuroraGG.
Last updated: May 08, 2009
Google
Web search, Web Images, Maps, News, Video, Gmail and more.
Webopedia: Google Products and Services
Throughout its brief history, Google has focused on developing the
"perfect search engine" by combining overall importance and
query-specific relevance to present search results. Google offers a host
of Web search services you can access through the main search page.
Webopedia: Web Search Engines & Directories
The following Quick Reference provides an overview of some of the more
popular public Web Search Engines and Directories, including details on
their history, information on how they work and tips for using each. |
