Operator |
Description |
Examples |
" " |
Exact Phrase Search
- Search for words in exact order
|
"Business Plan"
"prairie dog"
"Chicago fire"
|
+ |
Include word(s) in the results
- Add a plus sign before the word or phrase to include
- A space must be placed before the plus sign but not after it
|
"forest fire" +Flagstaff
"Chicago fire" +soccer
Picasso +Guernica
|
- |
Exclude word(s) in results
- Add a minus sign before a word or phrase to exclude
- A space must be placed before the minus sign but not after it.
|
"forest fire" -pine
"Chicago fire" -soccer
Mozart -sonatas
|
~ |
Synonyms
- Searches for a specified keyword and words that are similar to that word
|
~neuroscience
Returns Results
- neurophysiology
- neurobiology
- brain
- neurology
|
OR |
Broaden your search to include different terms
|
soccer OR football OR futbal
"Grand Canyon" OR Yosemite
|
site: |
Restrict search to a particular domain or website
- Search top level domains such as .edu, .org, .gov
- Search specific websites
|
"forest fires" site:.gov
tuition site:nau.edu
veteran programs site:.edu
|
filetype: |
Restrict your search to a specific file type
- There is no space between filetype: and the following word
|
"global warming" filetype:pdf
|
intitle: |
Searches for a single word or phrase in the title of the search result
- Google will restrict the results to pages that have the word or phrase in the title of the document
|
Find information about the use of robots in the production of Toyota vehicles.
assembly line robots intitle:toyota
|
AROUND(n) |
Searches for words that are within a certain range of other words
- Must capitalize AROUND(n) and add a number in parentheses for this to work.
|
"steve jobs" AROUND(3) environment
"climate change" AROUND(4) "polar bears"
|
related: |
Find pages related to a specific site
- No space between the colon and the web address.
|
related:redcross.org |
Adapted from MIT Libraries, Google Search Tips: Getting Started