Guides: Google: Google Searching

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A Myriad of Tips

To find out what myriad means Google it like this define:myriad

Credits

This research guide was created with the assistance of Josefine Cresswell, MLIS Intern, Hillman Library, University of Pittsburgh 2010-11.

What is Google?

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Surveillance, Security, and Privacy by Bruce A. Arrigo (Editor)
"A search engine is actually an online tool that is able to search for information on the web. Users submit queries that include keywords that describe the subject they are interested in, and the search engine sends back successive result pages that include links to webpages, images, and other types of files. One of the most widely used search engines in the world is Google. Google is a company that offers Internet services and products (e.g., search, advertising, cloud computing, software) that are employed by many Internet users." - The SAGE Encyclopedia of Surveillance, Security, and Privacy.

Using Google Efficiently

The site command: searching within a type of site or only a specific site.

Use it this way:
competitive intelligence site:.edu
population site:.gov
egypt site:nytimes.com
literary magazines site:pitt.edu
Exclude a term

Use it like this:
giants -"san francisco"
cats -musical
Nesting

Use it like this and capitalize OR to broaden your search and include those terms:
8mm schumacher (dvd OR vhs)
Pittsburgh Steelers 1974 OR 1975
Advanced Searching

All of Google's search services (Images, Web, Videos, Scholar, Books, etc.) have an advanced search option.
Use search short cuts

These will appear at the top of your searches if you use these words in your search.
* Weather
* Local Businesses
* Unit Conversion
* Movie Times
* Sports Scores
* Flight Tracker
* Dictionary
* Time
* Stock Quotes
* Calculator
* Earthquakes
* Currency Conversion
* Cooking Conversions
* Fill in the Blank
* Package Tracking
* Area Codes and Zip Codes
* Public Data

Google Commands

Search Service	Search Operators
Web Search	`allinanchor:`, `allintext:`, `allintitle:`, `allinurl:`, `cache:`, `define:`, `filetype:`, `id:`, `inanchor:`, `info:`, `intext:`, `intitle:`, `inurl:`, `link:`, `phonebook:`, `related:`, `site:`
Image Search	`allintitle:`, `allinurl:`, `filetype:`, `inurl:`, `intitle:`, `site:`
Groups	`allintext:`, `allintitle:`, `author:`, `group:`, `insubject:`, `intext:`, `intitle:`
Directory	`allintext:`, `allintitle:`, `allinurl:`, `ext:`, `filetype:`, `intext:`, `intitle:`, `inurl:`
News	`allintext:`, `allintitle:`, `allinurl:`, `intext:`, `intitle:`, `inurl:`, `location:`, `source:`
Product Search	`allintext:`, `allintitle:`

Source: http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators.html

Test Your Google Search Skills

A Google a Day
"There's no right way to solve it, but there's only one right answer."

Usage Rights Search

Take advantage of the Google usage rights filters on the Advanced Search and Advanced Image Search pages to find web content (such as text, videos, or images) you can reuse, share, or modify.

University of Pittsburgh Library System

Course & Subject Guides

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