The better the search, the better the results. There are millions and millions of web sites. Computers are not smart. Get the information you need by asking for it. To refine your searches, you can use some of the techniques listed below (syntax valid for most search engines, each site has a page with search tips and syntax for their engine). An easier approach is to use the search engine's Power Search or Advanced Search page, often accessible by clicking on a link named More Search Options. There all these options will be accessible by selecting from menus and filling in forms.

Some engines, such as HotBot, offer many more options than you could type in, so the advanced search page is really a must for efficient use of this engine.

Attaching one of the following operators will either require or prohibit words from appearing in the search results.

The + operator:

Preceding a word with a + requires that the word be found in all of the search results.

compare: police versus police +sting

The - operator:

Preceding a word with a - requires that the word not be found in any of the search results.

compare: python versus python -monty

Attaching one of the following operators to the front of a search word will restrict the search to a certain document section.

t: will restrict searches to document titles only

compare: joe boxer versus t:joe boxer

u: will restrict searches to document URLs only (returns pages pointing to intel)

compare: intel versus u:intel

Putting quotes around a set of words will only find results that match the words in that exact sequence.

compare: great barrier reef versus "great barrier reef"

Attaching a * to the right-hand side of a word will return left side partial matches (prefix matches).

compare: cap versus cap*

You may combine any of the query syntax as long as the syntax is combined in the proper order. The proper order for using the syntax is the same order that the operators are listed on this page. That is, +, -, t:, u:, "" and lastly *.

compare: (correct) +t:football -American versus (incorrect) t:+football -American

You can restrict your search to documents that are more recent than a certain date. There is no search query syntax available for restricting by time. This feature can only be accessed from the search options page .

You can customize the number of search results displayed on all result pages following the summary page (the layout of the summary page is fixed). There is no search query syntax option available for customizing the number of displayed results. This feature can only be accessed from the search options page (advanced search page).