Google is a household name all over the world. Let us look at ways that will make our Google experience better and smoother
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Google is an excellent search tool, but most of us do not know how to use it effectively and efficiently. Here are 20 tips that will assist you in your search and help you arrive at the most reliable results.
1. Use search operators. To get specific results, operators like quotation marks should be used. If we place quotes around the text, the search engine will look for that text in the exact order it is typed.
2. Use a colon. For example, if you are looking for Android-related content on techradar.com, then using the word ‘site,’ followed by a colon (android site:techradar.com) will get you exact results.
3. Defining your search. To look for dictionary meanings or synonyms for a particular word or phrase, prefixing ‘define:’ (define:search item) to the search item will work best.
4. Unit and currency conversion. Conversion of units and currencies can also be done using Google. For example, we can convert US$ to INR by simply typing that in the search box. Units for distance, weight, size, etc, can all be converted using Google.
5. Essential information comes faster. Google provides important tips to help you with your everyday problems. For example, weather report provides the current weather situation as well as a forecast for the next seven days. If we add a particular town’s name to our search, then the weather report for that location can also be found.
6. Location based search. When we search for a specific cuisine based restaurant, Google gives us several options around our current location. If more specific information is required, searching using a postal code can be of great help.
7. Image search filter. An image filter can be applied to sort images by size, colour or type.
8. Searching offline sites. There are several sites that might be offline during our search. We can access them by using Google cache. This operator sometimes catches ‘ninja edits’ that help sites rectify themselves and find the unrectified original in the cache files.
9. Checking current events around us. Looking for a movie/theatre nearby? If you type a specific movie title, timings for the same will be provided, along with the availability status of the tickets.
10. Voice search options. There is a voice search option available on Google Chrome and Android OS, which enables us to search using voice. We just need to click on the microphone icon and speak out our search item.
11. Spell-check. If you are not sure about a spelling, just type the word in the search box. Google will give you the correct spelling for the same, along with definitions and synonyms.
12. Web search filter. There are several filtering tools available on Google. For example, if we select the country as India, search results get limited to Indian websites only. We can filter our search by date or time, allowing Google to use our current location.
13. Discovering site relations. There are many inter-related sites on the Internet. If we search using a particular keyword or even website, results come for linked websites, too. Use an operator (link:website) and Google will give links to other pages.
14. Related operator. This handy operator lists websites that are similar to the ones we are looking for. It takes us to sister sites of the ones that we have specified in our search, but sometimes gives us rival sites too.
15. Searching between two numbers. Google search can be restricted to a specific number range. For doing so, you can use two dots, like 1914..1918 or $250..$350.
16. Specific files’ search. There is an operator: filetype, which helps search for specific types of files like Microsoft Word and PDF files. The file extension (.doc or .xml) has to be provided, else Google may not give optimum results.
17. Smartphone apps. Apps can be searched on Google by clicking on ‘More >> Apps,’ which appears at the top of the results page. Android users can install these apps by accessing them through Google Play.
18. Search settings’ customisation. By customising your search settings, the number of relevant results increases. To filter a search, you can use SafeSearch and get rid of explicit results.
19. Search settings’ personalisation. If you allow, Google will save your search history and you can access it on any device. This function helps give more relevant results every time. Search results also get categorised into shopping, news, images and travel. But the only drawback is, if you have looked for something that you want to avoid in the future, Google’s record does not let you do so.
20. Google translate. This feature translates text and web pages for you. All you have to do it type ‘translate language A to language B’ and a translator appears on the top of the page.
