This guide is intended to serve as a resource for those using Google to identify research materials or other items. The information provided
is based in part on an informational handout from Google and is only applicable to searching Google resources.
Please feel free to inquire if you need assistance in searching Google.
Exact Phrase search “”
If you enter in: “great balls of fire”
What it does: looks for anything with the exact phrase “great balls of fire”
Results: all web documents containing the exact phrase “great balls of fire”
Find the Meaning define:
If you enter in: “define: conundrum”
What it does: defines a word or phrase
Results: links you to definitions of “conundrum”
Excluded Words -
If you enter in: Books -fiction
What it does: excludes word or phrase from search results
Results: Information on books that are not related or reference “fiction”
Site Specific site:
If you enter in: bird migration:org
What it does: searches only particular websites
Results: in this example, it would look for bird migration information on web sites with addresses ending in .org.
Similar Words ~
If you enter in: ~mobile phone
What it does: searches for a word and all of its synonyms
Results: information with the word “phone” as well as “cell” “cellular”
wireless” etc.
Linked Pages link:
If you enter in: link:www.ecu.edu
What it does: searches out web pages that are linked to a specific site
Results: web pages that are linked to the East Carolina University website
Multiple words or
If you enter in: “alligators” “Florida or American”
What it does: searches for web pages that include either word
Results: If you enter in: web pages that include “alligators” and either word “Florida” or “American”
Math Answers 2+2
If you enter in: 2+2, 55% of 70, 5^2, sqrt(36), etc.
What it does: basic calculator functions
Results: the answers
Numerical Ranges …
If you enter in: Walt Disney 1920…1970
What it does: searches for a range of numbers
Results: information about Walt Disney during the 1920-1970 time period
Conversions cm in foot
If you enter in: cm in foot, 75F in C, $ in euros, miles in league, etc.
What it does: converts unit of measure
Results: the converted answers
*Thanks to Larry White, Ph.D of The ECU Dept. of Library Science and Instructional Design for this easy to use, Google “Cheat Sheet”.
