Web Search Tools > 5: Smart Search Techniques

Once you choose an appropriate search tool, you must use it effectively. Here are four steps to getting good results from a Web search. See the net.TUTOR tutorial Searching 101 for more detailed information on searching.

5A: Use Multiple Search Words

Searches consisting of one or two words don't usually work well in Web Indexes. They produce a large number of results, often too much for you to review. To improve your chances for success, be sure to:

1. Use as many search words as possible to describe your topic.

2. Be specific -- avoid vague or common words whenever possible.

3. Put the most important or unique words first.

Example: Ohio State Buckeyes football bowl championship

5B: Combine Search Words Effectively

When you use multiple search words, you should also use Boolean operators or other connectors. They tell the search tool how to combine the various words you enter. The chart on this page shows how these basic operators work. - - - Indicate Word Proximity Other operators can be used to indicate when words should be found adjacent to (ADJ) or near each other (NEAR). When your words are a phrase (and should be found next to each other, in the exact order shown), be sure to indicate this. In many search tools, phrases should be enclosed within quotation marks: Example: "Ohio State University"

Use Plus (+) or AND To require that all of the search words be found in results Example: bowl AND championship Example: +bowl   +championship Use OR To find any of your search words in results (most often used when searching for synonyms). Example: Buckeyes OR Bucks Use Minus (-) or NOT To eliminate words from search results. Example: bowl NOT Rose Example: +bowl   -Rose

- - - Use Correct Syntax

Search engines vary with regard to types of operators may be used and how they are denoted. For example, you cannot use the Boolean operator NEAR in Google, but you can use the asterisk (*) symbol between search words to indicate that one or more words may intervene.

Example: "George * Bush"
Finds: George Bush and George W. Bush

This syntax is specific to Google. Review the Help page for a search engine that you use frequently to understand correct syntax for your search statements. Google has a handy Cheat Sheet that summarizes this information.

5C: Use Limiting Features

Some indexes allow you to limit search results to a particular field (or part) of the Web page, such as the URL, title, headers within the page text, etc. Limiting your search in this way can help to find the most relevant pages quickly. To limit a search, you must: Type the field name where the search terms should be found as a prefix (in front of your search terms). Example: title: "Ohio State University" Use an Advanced Search form with pull-down menu choices that will allow you to limit your search in various ways.

Methods for limiting Web searches:
Domain	Limit search to pages published on U.S. government (.gov or .us), educational (.edu), non-profit organization (.org) or commercial (.com) servers.
Country or region	Find pages published on servers located in different counties or regions (such as South America).
Date	Screen for current pages.
File Format or Media	Find various types of documents (PDF, PowerPoint), images, audio, video files, etc.
Language	Limit a search to pages written in English or some other language.
Occurrences	Limit a search to where search terms appear in a page (page title, headers, text, URL, etc.).

5D: Refine Your Search

One search is rarely sufficient. Usually you must add or subtract some search terms or make other adjustments. Here are some simple ways to refine your search and get better results.

- - - Search Within Results

This option is available in many search engines. It is a good way to begin focusing (narrowing) a search, but you must think of additional search terms to use for your new search and then type them into the search box.

- - - Find Similar Sites

Once you have identified a really useful site, let the search engine help you find others that are similar. Here are two techniques.

1. Follow Links: Choose the best site from your list of results and click on the link for "similar" or related pages to find more sites on that same topic.

2. Type Search Prefix: If you know the URL of a good site, you may use Google to find other sites that are similar. Type the search prefix related: followed by the URL of the initial site, as shown below.

   Format: related:URL of site
   Example: related:liblearn.osu.edu/tutor/

- - - Add New Terms

Some search engines, such as Ask.com, may scan your search results and suggest new search terms that will help to focus your research, as shown in the illustration. Simply click on one of these links to see new results.

Example: teaching ~jobs
Finds: words: jobs, careers, occupations, employment

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