SMU Classification: Restricted
Bite-Sized Library Workshop: Researching with Google and Wikipedia
Handout: Google Search Tips
1. Don’t worry about these little things …
• Spelling
• Capitalization
But, every word you type matters and the order in which you type words matters (reference).
2. Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase
Examples:
“social media”
“online shopping”
3. Use OR to combine searches
Examples:
UAV OR drone
facebook OR twitter OR instagram
4. Use an asterisk to specify unknown or variable words
Examples of Search Terms Results
“world * foundation” World Forum Foundation, World Wide Hearing Foundation, etc.
“world health *” World Health Organization, World Health Emergency Operation Readiness, etc.
5. Use a minus sign to eliminate results containing a certain word
Examples:
“online shopping” -amazon -taobao
cryptocurrency -bitcoin -ethereum
Note: there is no space between “-” and the word which is to be excluded.
6. Use “site:” to search a specific site
Examples:
site:[Link]
site:[Link]
To search for specific information on a site, add a space to the end of the query followed by your search term:
site:[Link] covid-19
site:[Link] population
7. Use “site:” and the top-level domain to search for information from a specific country or region
Examples:
site:.sg lasagna
site:.eu brexit
8. Use “filetype:” to find information in a specific file type
Examples:
filetype:pdf tiramisu recipe
filetype:ppt python
filetype:xls singapore demographic
9. Use “intitle:”, “allintitle:” or “inurl:”, “allinurl:” to search for results that contain certain words in the title or
the URL
Examples:
allintitle:singapore management university
inurl:smu
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SMU Classification: Restricted
Bite-Sized Library Workshop: Researching with Google and Wikipedia
10. Find quick answers on Google (Option: search with your voice )
Examples of Search Terms Notes on Search Operators
weather singapore Check weather: weather followed by a location
time cape town Check time: time followed by a location
singapore to cape town time Convert time zones: location A to location B time
sunrise singapore Check sunrise/sunset time: sunrise/sunset followed by a location
sq308 Track real-time flight status by typing a flight number
define shiok Check definition: define followed by a word
taxi stand 178901 Search for something followed by a postcode
5 * 10 / 2 – 5 + 2 Solve equations using +, -, *, and /
3 usd to sgd Convert currencies: currency A to currency B
pronounce python Check pronunciation: pronounce followed by a word; switch between British
and American pronunciations
water in japanese Translate languages using in or to
english to japanese water
GOOG Check a stock by typing its ticker name
AAPL
11. Some little tools …
• set timer to 10 seconds
• start stopwatch
12. Verbatim search on Google
A tool that explicitly searches for exactly and only your search term (taking into consideration the exact spelling,
the same tense and verb form, and the same plural or singular form).
Search results page >> Tools >> All results >> Verbatim
13. View cached pages on Google
A cached page is a snapshot of a web page as it appeared the last time Google's robots visited it. This feature is
especially useful when a website goes down and you still want to access some of its content. You can do so
through either way below:
• Type “cache:[Link] into the browser address bar and hit enter
Note: there is no space between “cache:” and the page URL.
• Access from the search results page
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14. Other Google sites:
o Google Scholar
o Activate the “Find it @ SMU Libraries” link on Google Scholar:
Settings >> Library links >> add SMU’s library access links
o When the “Find it @ SMU Libraries” link is not available:
Try the “Try SMU Libraries” option instead.
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o Install the Browser Extension: Google Scholar Button:
How does it work? Below is a quick guide. Read more on our Research Guide: Google Scholar Button. Note
that you will not be able to install the extensions when your Google is signed in using your SMU account.
o Google Images
o Search by image (paste image URL or upload an image):
o Search with an image from search results:
Click on an image to visually search it.
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o Filter image results by usage right:
Search results page >> Tools >> Usage Rights >> Creative Commons licenses (may be shared and reused
according to the CC license applied)
How do I cite an image? Include an attribution statement with the image in the main text and a
corresponding reference in the Reference List. Read more on our Research Guide: Image and Video
Resources.
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SMU Classification: Restricted
Bite-Sized Library Workshop: Researching with Google and Wikipedia
o Filter image results by type:
Search results page >> Tools >> Type >> Clip Art (presentation-friendly)
o Google Books
o Find a print copy at SMU Libraries or other local libraries, e.g. National Library Board:
Book page >> Get this book in print >> Find in a library >> SMU
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