Datasheet

Another useful way to affect the way Google understands keywords is to tell Google what to ignore. Precede
keywords that you specifically don’t want to see in your results with a – (minus sign). For example, if you
are searching on old M.A.S.H. TV shows and using the keyword potter, and don’t want to see an endless
stream of pages about Harry Potter, you can precede the word harry with a minus sign like this: –harry
potter mash tv.
Whether using the + or – sign to affect how Google handles your keywords, make certain there is a space
before either of these characters when following another keyword.
The query
Type your keywords into the Google Search box as shown in Figure 1.3. You can begin your search by
pressing Enter or by clicking Search.
Don’t be afraid to get extra help by clicking the Search Tips link at the bottom of each Google
results page.
Google Search boxes have become ubiquitous. They are everywhere. Google has given the ability to include
its search box on any Web page that wants to have one. You don’t necessarily have to be on the Google
home page to perform your query. Be advised that many of the Google Search boxes that appear on other
sites have the ability of searching the entire Web or just that site. Normally, the Web page informs you of
any search limitations.
Google searches are not secure. Never enter personal or financial information into a Google
Search box, particularly one that is on a page other than the Google home page.
FIGURE 1.3
Type your search term into the Google Search box.
The missing word query
Earlier in this chapter you learned how to create a phrase by enclosing keywords within quotes. Another
useful tool is the * (missing word wildcard), which is used only within phrases. This is particular great
when you are searching for things like song lyrics and can’t remember all the words. For instance, “If you
could * my mind love” as a search phrase will return the words from the Gordon Lightfoot song that begins,
“If you could read my mind love.”
Using the missing word wildcard is also great when you need answers. Here is an example: “the circumfer-
ence of the Earth is * miles” returns “the circumference of the Earth is 24901.55 miles in the first result.” Of
course, you could have typed the phrase “the circumference of the Earth is” without the wildcard and the
word miles and you might receive different results including the circumference in kilometers or feet. It is a
little-used feature but can help you narrow your search.
One last useful feature of the missing word wildcard is that Google does not count this wildcard when cal-
culating whether or not you have exceeded the ten-keyword limit. You might find it useful when too many
search terms have become a problem.
WARNING
WARNING
TIP
TIP
8
Navigating Google Information
Part I
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