Advanced Search Tips using Google
There are four sections in this tip page:
- Search Tools - Really quick ways to get only the types of results you want
- Google Advanced Search -Powerful tips to zero in on the best results fast
- Google Image Search - A few tricks including how to find free, "legal" images for your work)
- Other Tips - Good things to know like how to search only blogs, getting email alerts and Google's resources
Search Tools
Here are two simple ways to go directly to the types of results you need.
As you probably know, after you conduct a search, you can pick different areas of Google such as Maps, Images or News to see results of those types. The More menu can also give you other categories such as Books or Apps. (Google changes the More menu from time to time, so be sure to check it when doing important searches.)
Here are two simple ways to go directly to the types of results you need.
As you probably know, after you conduct a search, you can pick different areas of Google such as Maps, Images or News to see results of those types. The More menu can also give you other categories such as Books or Apps. (Google changes the More menu from time to time, so be sure to check it when doing important searches.)
A couple other useful tools can be found in the Search Tools button. If you click that, it will give you the Any time tool, which allows you to search for recent results. This is extremely helpful when you need timely information!
Also, the second dropdown (shown as All results in the picture) has an option that allows you to filter by reading level.
Also, the second dropdown (shown as All results in the picture) has an option that allows you to filter by reading level.
Google Advanced Search
Using Google's advanced search features can save you time and locate much better results.
You can get to the Advanced Search page in a few ways.
First, you can access it by going to http://www.google.com/advanced_search
You can also find it at the bottom of the Google homepage. As shown in the left image below, it is in the Settings menu.
And after you have already conducted a search, Advanced Search can also be found in the Settings (the gear icon) in the upper right of your screen, as shown in the right image.
Using Google's advanced search features can save you time and locate much better results.
You can get to the Advanced Search page in a few ways.
First, you can access it by going to http://www.google.com/advanced_search
You can also find it at the bottom of the Google homepage. As shown in the left image below, it is in the Settings menu.
And after you have already conducted a search, Advanced Search can also be found in the Settings (the gear icon) in the upper right of your screen, as shown in the right image.
OK, found it, but what should I type in all those boxes?
Not every box needs text in it, but here is an example for the first section. The second and fourth boxes are especially useful when trying to zero in on a topic or to avoid results you don't want to consider.
This example search below would bring up results that have job and the phrase high school, but it would leave out anything that had Michigan. Results also must include at least one of the words coach, custodian or cook, but not necessarily all of them. Finally, results would include numbers between 1990 and 2010.
Not every box needs text in it, but here is an example for the first section. The second and fourth boxes are especially useful when trying to zero in on a topic or to avoid results you don't want to consider.
This example search below would bring up results that have job and the phrase high school, but it would leave out anything that had Michigan. Results also must include at least one of the words coach, custodian or cook, but not necessarily all of them. Finally, results would include numbers between 1990 and 2010.
The second half of the Advanced Search page has several other ways to narrow your results. Most of the options are simple to understand. Four of the most powerful ones are highlighted below.
Google Image Search
Probably everyone has used Google to search for an image. If you want to go directly to the Image Search page, you can always access it here: http://www.google.com/imghp
Here are two lesser known tricks that can come in handy.
First, the Reverse Image Search
When you go to the Image Search , you'll see a camera icon in the search box. Click that to upload a picture and have Google find similar pictures. This can be very helpful if you have a picture you want more information about.
Probably everyone has used Google to search for an image. If you want to go directly to the Image Search page, you can always access it here: http://www.google.com/imghp
Here are two lesser known tricks that can come in handy.
First, the Reverse Image Search
When you go to the Image Search , you'll see a camera icon in the search box. Click that to upload a picture and have Google find similar pictures. This can be very helpful if you have a picture you want more information about.
And an easy way to make sure you are using images that are legal
After you conduct an image search, click Search Tools and limit by Usage Rights. This will display image results that are labeled by the creator of the image as legal for sharing according to the license type you pick. (For related information, see the tip page about Copyright and Creative Commons.)
After you conduct an image search, click Search Tools and limit by Usage Rights. This will display image results that are labeled by the creator of the image as legal for sharing according to the license type you pick. (For related information, see the tip page about Copyright and Creative Commons.)
Other Tips
Blog Search
You can use Google to search only on blogs. This can be helpful for finding new articles from experts or thinkers in any area of interest. The Google Blog Search address is http://www.google.com/blogsearch. Use this along with the Search Tools tip at the top of this page to find articles posted within the day, week or month.
Email Alerts from Google
Want search results to be emailed to you regularly? This can be helpful if you are doing ongoing research and you don't want to run the same search every morning. Just fill out the form at http://www.google.com/alerts and you will get updates as often as you like.
Tips right from the source
If you want more tips (or if you're just hoping to stumble on interesting information) here is where Google keeps their list of all tips and tricks: http://www.google.com/insidesearch/tipstricks/
Blog Search
You can use Google to search only on blogs. This can be helpful for finding new articles from experts or thinkers in any area of interest. The Google Blog Search address is http://www.google.com/blogsearch. Use this along with the Search Tools tip at the top of this page to find articles posted within the day, week or month.
Email Alerts from Google
Want search results to be emailed to you regularly? This can be helpful if you are doing ongoing research and you don't want to run the same search every morning. Just fill out the form at http://www.google.com/alerts and you will get updates as often as you like.
Tips right from the source
If you want more tips (or if you're just hoping to stumble on interesting information) here is where Google keeps their list of all tips and tricks: http://www.google.com/insidesearch/tipstricks/