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Google and Google Scholar Search Tips

Advanced searching tips and setting your library links in Google Scholar to get more University Libraries purchased content.

Advanced Search Tips

Did you know two people could do the same search in Google, but see different results displayed?  That's because the Google search engine takes into account previous searches and customizes the results. Use Advanced search and operators to target the power of your Google searches.

Go to www.google.com/advanced_search or once you’ve done a Google search, you’ll find it after you click on the gear icon in the top right corner.

The form shows you how to search for phrases either term and other options

Are you a longtime Google user? Actions no longer supported:

~     tilde used to bring back similar terms, Google now does this automatically

+    plus sign (term had to be in the results)

Narrowing Search Results

After searching google.com, you’ll find some options for limiting your search presented on the page and under “Search Tools” or you can go to the Advanced search by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner.

The Advanced search form makes it easy to narrow your search, including by:

  • language
  • region (country)
  • site or domain (ex:  com, edu, gov, org)
  • file type
  • usage rights

Using Operators

  • "  "  → Use quotation marks to match an exact phrase or word
    • Ex: "islamic state"

  • OR → Type a capitalized OR between words to look for either term

    • Ex: isis OR "islamic state"

  • Site → Search within a specific site or a particular domain 

    • Ex: ebola site:cnn.com 

    • Ex: ebola statistics site:gov

  • * → Add an asterisk for any unknown or wildcard terms

    • Ex: “thomas * edison” influence

  • - → Use a minus sign to exclude

    • Ex: jaguar –car

    • Ex: “green tea” –site:com

  • Intitle → Search for the term in the title of the search results. One way to try to target your search when you get lots of results