Google Search made easy

Since it has become the most useful tool when using the internet, and it even got a catchy name for it (i.e. "Google it!"), I thought it might even more useful if I summarize some nice tips to tweak the search for the most accurate results.

Now, you may use the formatted Google Advanced Search  or you can just learn the simple key words that will help you narrow your search.

First for the basics:

•    1. Every word you enter counts
•    2. [ Yin and Yang ] is one query, while [ Yin ] and [ Yang ] are two separate queries.
•    3. Punctuation is ignored, including @#$%^&*()=+[]\ and other special characters.
•    4. Use the words that are most likely to appear on the page.
•    5. The more unique the word is the more likely you are to get relevant results.

The cool stuff:

• Phrase search ("") - Looks for exact words in that exact order without any change.
• Search within a specific website (site:) - Limit your search to a particular domain name.
• Terms you want to exclude (-) - Use the minus sign to omit searches that include words you want to exclude.
• Wild card (*) - The search treats the star as a placeholder for any unknown term(s) and then find the best matches.
• Exactly as is (+) -Since Google employs synonyms automatically, this key tells it to ignore it.
• The OR operator (|) - Since usually every word counts, this key specifically allow either one of several words.
• File extension (filetype:) - Display results that include only specified file types.
• Search title (intitle:) - Display results that include the specified title in a document.

Now let's put this in to action


Example 1 - The search entry:
 "burning down the house" "talking heads"|tom jones" site:youtube.com Try it Now
Will search for "Burning down the house"  by Talking Heads or by Tom Jones only on youtube.com


Example 2 - The search entry:
 intitle:vitae site:uk programmer -submit -apply ext:doc | ext:pdf  Try it Now
Will search for the word "vitae"  on UK domains, include the word programmer exclude the words submit apply and only in files that have the extensions .doc and .pdf


Example 3 - The search entry:
 funny * +screams mirror site:youtube.com  Try it Now 
Will search for the word  funny and then some word, the exact phrase screams and the word mirror on youtube (BTW, that's my girl that is screaming there)

Well, these are the basics, from here on out you can use any combination you choose to narrow your search to get the best results.
To find out more about the advance search options and the exceptions that it offers use Google help pages.