Getting More Out of a Simple Google Search
Here are some of my favorite little tricks to get more out of a simple Google search. Not only do they make better use of your precious time, but they’re fun to use – enjoy!
1. Use the “site:” operator to limit searches to a particular website. This is particularly handy because the built-in search tools of many sites don’t return the results you’re looking for, and some sites don’t even have a search feature. If I’m looking for New York Times Op-Ed posts, for example, I would try this search: op-ed site:newyorktimes.com.
2. Use Google as a spelling aid. Entering a word into Google is a quick way to see if you have the right spelling. If it’s incorrect, Google will suggest the correct spelling. Additionally, if you want to get a definition of a word, you can use the “define:” operator to return definitions from various dictionaries. For example, try define:syrinx.
3. Use Google as a calculator. Google has a built-in calculator – try entering a calculation like 10*(24/8+14). Of course, your computer also has a calculator, but if you spend most of your day inside a browser, typing your calculation into the browser’s search box is quicker than firing up your calculator app.
4. Use the “time:” operator to find out what time it is anywhere in the world. This one’s really handy if you want to make sure that you’re not phoning someone in the middle of the night. For example, try time:Kauai. [Boy, I wish I was there now :)]
5. Get quick currency conversions. Here’s an example for converting euros to dollars: 25 euros in dollars.
6. Area code lookup. Need to know where a phone number is located? Just type in the number of the area code. For example, where the heck is area code 208?
Please comment below to share some of your favorite Google search tricks.
Really useful information, Joyce. I didn’t even think to use Google for calculations. Very, very helpful.
Thanks, Larry. Glad you found the information helpful.
I tend to have a lot of windows open, and I hate waiting for new pages to load, so when I am faced with many links on a page, such as a Google search, I open each one up in a separate tab in the same window. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest is to hold down the ctrl or command key while clicking the link. Then I go through all the tabs and see what information is of interest to me.
Great, Garth! I tried your ‘trick’ and it worked beautifully. Thanks for sharing it with us all.