Search Google: Modifiers & Functions

What it does: searches for an exact phrase
What to type: “one small step for man”
What you’ll get: results that include the exact phrase “one small step for man”

What it does: excludes search results with a particular word or phrase
What to type: bass –fishing
What you’ll get: results about bass that are not related to fishing

What it does: searches for a word and all its synonyms
What to type: ~mobile phone
What you’ll get: results with the word “phone,” as well as “cell,” “cellular,” “wireless,” etc.

What it does: searches for webpages that include either word
What to type: “vacation” “london” OR “paris”
What you’ll get: results with the word vacation and either London or Paris

What it does: searches for a range of numbers
What to type: Willie Mays 1950...1960
What you’ll get: results about Willie Mays during this time period

What it does: defines a word or phrase
What to type: define:plethora
What you’ll get: links to definitions of the word “plethora”

What it does: searches only particular websites
What to type: global warming site:.edu
What you’ll get: references to “global warming” found on .edu websites

What it does: searches for specific types of files
What to type: affordable health care act filetype:ppt
What you’ll get: links to PowerPoint slides about “affordable health care act”

What it does: searches for webpages that link to a particular website
What to type: link:www.pct.edu
What you’ll get: websites that link to the Penn College website

What it does: basic calculator functions
What to type: 4+7, 30% of 55, 20^2, sqrt(4), etc.
What you’ll get: the answer

What it does: converts units of measure
What to type: cm in foot, 28C in F, $ in pound, days in fortnight, miles in league, mph in speed of light, etc.
What you’ll get: the converted answer