Google Operator Cheat Sheet
Google Operator Cheat Sheet
““
Use quotes around a phrase when you want Google to look for that exact phrase.
EXAMPLE- “podcasting for business”
TIP- You may also do a query with some words within quotes, and other words out of the
quotes. EX- “podcasting for business” money time
-
Use the hyphen when you don’t want a specific word included in the search results.
EXAMPLE- piano man –billy –joel (You don’t want Billy Joel included in the search results.)
~
Use the tilde before a word if you want Google to include results with synonyms of that
word.
EXAMPLE- nail fungus ~remedy
+
Use the plus before stop words (commonly used words like: the, how, where, digits,
numbers, etc) to force Google to include them in the results.
EXAMPLE- +the dream
*
Use the asterisk (known as the wildcard) anywhere within the phrase of query. Google
uses the asterisk as a word placeholder, and will find a variety of sites with different
words being used in place of the asterisk.
EXAMPLE- i love * books
TIP- You may use quotes around the phrase. EX- “I love * books”
OR
Use the capitalized OR in between words or phrases when you want Google to offer
results containing one word or another.
EXAMPLE- "cost of living" new york city OR los angeles
TIP- You may include more than one OR within a query. EX- "cost of living" new york city OR
los angeles or paris or London
..
Use two side-by-side periods when you want Google to search for a numeric range.
EXAMPLE- Ipod $100..$250
TIP- Can also be used for years.
site:
Search for information within one specific website.
EXAMPLE- help site:www.aol.com
allintitle:
Obtain web pages that have several specific words within the title.
EXAMPLE- allintitle:essay topics
TIP #1- You must start your query with this operator.
TIP #2- You can use quotes around the entire phrase, or parts of the phrase. EX:
allintitle:"essay topics" college
intitle:
Obtain web pages that have a specific word within the title.
EXAMPLE- intitle:decoupage
TIP #1- You may include this operator anywhere within the query. EX- plates intitle:decoupage
TIP #2- Any additional words that you include in the query will only be seen within the web
page, not in the title.
allinurl:
Obtain web pages that have several specific words within the URL.
EXAMPLE- allinurl:college essay
TIP #1: You must start your query with this operator.
TIP #2: You can use quotes around the entire phrase. EX- allinurl:”college essay”
inurl:
Obtain web pages that have a specific word within the URL.
EXAMPLE- inurl:decoupage
TIP #1- You may include this operator anywhere within the query.
EX- glasses inurl:decoupage
TIP #2- Any additional words that you include in the query will only be seen within the web
page, not the title.
related:
Enter a website URL, and get a list of websites that are similar.
EXAMPLE- related:www.ask.com
define:
Offers a list of definitions for a word or term.
EXAMPLE- define:persuasive essay