Skip to Main Content

ESL 400/LIBR 100 Readings

How to refine searches on Google

You can use symbols or words in your search to make your search results more precise.

  • Google Search usually ignores punctuation that isn’t part of a search operator.
  • Don’t put spaces between the symbol or word and your search term. A search for site:nytimes.com will work, but site: nytimes.com won’t.

Search social media: Put @ in front of a word to search social media. For example: @twitter.

Search for a price: Put $ in front of a number. For example: camera $400.

Search hashtags: Put # in front of a word. For example: #throwbackthursday

Exclude words from your search: Put - in front of a word you want to leave out. For example, jaguar speed -car

Search for an exact match: Put a word or phrase inside quotes. For example, "tallest building".

Search for wildcards or unknown words:  Put a * in your word or phrase where you want to leave a placeholder. For example, "largest * in the world".

Search within a range of numbers: Put .. between two numbers. For example, camera $50..$100.

Combine searches: Put "OR" between each search query. For example,  marathon OR race.

Search for a specific site: Put "site:" in front of a site or domain. For example, site:youtube.com or site:.gov.

Search for related sites: Put "related:" in front of a web address you already know. For example, related:time.com.

Get details about a site: Put "info:" in front of the site address.

See Google’s cached version of a site: Put "cache:" in front of the site address.

"How to refine web searches." Refine web searches, Google Search Help, 2021.

Nonpartisan websites

These organizations seek to offer objective information.

What do your neighbors watch, read or listen to?

See what news outlets people in your area prefer on the Pew Research Center "What is your local news landscape?" webpage.