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5 Google search tips for more relevant results

Google search can yield pages and pages of results that may or may not be what you were looking for. We'll show you 5 Google search tips for better results.

Ed Rhee
Ed Rhee, a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is an IT veteran turned stay-at-home-dad of two girls. He focuses on Android devices and applications while maintaining a review blog at techdadreview.com.
Ed Rhee
2 min read
You shouldn't need to wade through pages of Google search results to find what you want. Here are five Google search tips to yield more relevant results:

Tip #1: Search within a single Web site (site:)
To perform a search within a Web site, use "site:" within the search. For example, if you want to search for a review of the Asus Transformer tablet at CNET.com, type, "asus transformer review site:cnet.com."

Google search site:
Screenshot by Ed Rhee

Tip #2: Use a wildcard for words (*)
You can use the "*" wildcard to search for whole words within a search phrase. If you want to know where San Francisco Giants catcher, Buster Posey, went to high school, type, "buster posey attended * high school."

Google search *
Screenshot by Ed Rhee

Tip #3: Exclude terms in a search (-)
A great way to slim down Google search results is by using the "-" sign to exclude words. If you want to search for "mouse" but exclude all results about computer mice, type, "mouse -computer."

Google search (-) exclude
Screenshot by Ed Rhee

Tip #4: Search a numrange (..)
You can use ".." to search within a range of numbers. To search for a laptop with an Intel Core i3 CPU between $500 and $800, type "core i3 laptop $500..$800."

Google search numrange
Screenshot by Ed Rhee

Tip #5: Search synonyms (~)
To search for terms and their synonyms, use the "~" sign. As an example, if you want to search for exercise tips, typing "~exercise ~tips" will produce results that include "workout" and "advice."

Google search (~) synonym
Screenshot by Ed Rhee

For additional search tips, watch Molly Wood in the how to video below. She covers some of the tips listed above, as well as additional tips and syntax operators for better Google search results.


Watch this: Get better Google search results