Optimized search queries.

Have you ever wondered how to perform more exacting search queries. Here's a list of improved strategies that hopefully are of some service:

1.) Don't bother using "a", "and", "how", etc. These words are considered STOP words by search engines (meaning they skip over them); they will usually cause your search to take longer too.

2.) Use the word "or" - this means if you are doing a search for jack and jill - get rid of the "and" bc the search engine all considers that variable and use "or" if you are actually only searching for jack or jill.

3.) If you really want to use the word "how" in your search, use the "+" button and the word "how"; for example "+how cars work" will give you a site about how cars work, whereas "how do cars work" will not be as effective.

4.) The same goes for the "-" symbol.

5.) The "~" will find synonymous words on other pages. Example: ~grass will show finds related to lawn, weed, field, etc.

6.) Use """" - quotations around words that you actually want to find or search. Example: if you are searching for the website techintheclass, type "techintheclass"

7.) Use the word "related" if you want to find things related to a website. Example: if I was trying to find a website related to techintheclass I would put the following in the search box: related:http://techintheclass.blogspot.com

8.) Use google directories to use only handpicked websites to search: http://directory.google.com/ (you may also want to try the following category specific google search sites: http://answers.google.com/answers/, http://books.google.com/, http://scholar.google.com/, http://blogsearch.google.com/)

9.) Finally use operators (if you can remember them) - see the pic for a list of some common ones.

Info summarized from: http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=675274&seqNum=1&rl=1