Information Literacy Guide - Tips on Searching the Web

Information Literacy Learning Guides

Practice

Tips for Searching the Web Quick Guide to Boolean Searching

Search returns a 'billion' documents You probably typed only one term, and it was pretty common. Think of some synonyms. Try adding at least two more specific terms to your string.

Search returns too few documents You're probably searching in the wrong place or your search is too narrow. Maybe you didn't configure your search correctly. Maybe the information you seek isn't on the web. Try omitting some of your search terms. Try your search on another engine, directory, people search, or specialty resource.

Phrase Searching Search returns
Surrounding a group of words with double quotes tells the search engine to only retrieve documents in which those words appear side-by-side.

examples : "John F. Kennedy" "Walt Disney World" "global warming"

Word Order Enter your most important concept first. Some search engines base their results on word order of terms entered.

Lower Case When in doubt, use lower case.

Read the instructions Read the help pages. The help pages tell you how to perform a search using that search tool, and may tell you what types of web sites they include and how the tool ranks the results.

Separate your search words by spaces Don't use commas or dashes unless you are instructed to do so.

Enter the most important words first The order of your words may matter; you may get different results depending on which words you place first. Try changing the order of the words if you don't get the results you expected.

Use synonyms If different words express your topic, try using them, as well as abbreviations. Use spelling variations if appropriate: British English spelling is used in many international sites.

Use more than one search engine Although there is some overlap, each search engine has a different database, so you'll get different results from engine to engine. see: How to choose a search engine

Use the help screen Most search engines allow advanced ways to search using phrases and Boolean operators - look for a "Help" button to find instructions.

Correct spelling is essential Most search engines require correct spelling. For those of us that are spelling challenged - use Google - it asks you if you meant ...and then gives you alternative spellings.

Estrella Mountain Community College Library Main Page Learning Guides Index

Last Updated: 8/2/04

Search returns a 'billion' documents	You probably typed only one term, and it was pretty common. Think of some synonyms. Try adding at least two more specific terms to your string.
Search returns too few documents	You're probably searching in the wrong place or your search is too narrow. Maybe you didn't configure your search correctly. Maybe the information you seek isn't on the web. Try omitting some of your search terms. Try your search on another engine, directory, people search, or specialty resource.
Phrase Searching Search returns	Surrounding a group of words with double quotes tells the search engine to only retrieve documents in which those words appear side-by-side. examples : "John F. Kennedy" "Walt Disney World" "global warming"
Word Order	Enter your most important concept first. Some search engines base their results on word order of terms entered.
Lower Case	When in doubt, use lower case.
Read the instructions	Read the help pages. The help pages tell you how to perform a search using that search tool, and may tell you what types of web sites they include and how the tool ranks the results.
Separate your search words by spaces	Don't use commas or dashes unless you are instructed to do so.
Enter the most important words first	The order of your words may matter; you may get different results depending on which words you place first. Try changing the order of the words if you don't get the results you expected.
Use synonyms	If different words express your topic, try using them, as well as abbreviations. Use spelling variations if appropriate: British English spelling is used in many international sites.
Use more than one search engine	Although there is some overlap, each search engine has a different database, so you'll get different results from engine to engine. see: How to choose a search engine
Use the help screen	Most search engines allow advanced ways to search using phrases and Boolean operators - look for a "Help" button to find instructions.
Correct spelling is essential	Most search engines require correct spelling. For those of us that are spelling challenged - use Google - it asks you if you meant ...and then gives you alternative spellings.