5 Search Tips I Learned in Middle School

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Teenagers can find just about anything on the Internet. Is it because they're more technologically saavy? Probably not.

Much like most middle-aged parents and adults were taught common knowledge info in their teens, so are today's youth taught the ABCs of Internet search, at earlier ages, too. Understanding these quick tips is used to be an option, but hardly is anymore.

Whether you're looking for prescription information on webMD, or checking out the latest summer fashion styles, using these will help greatly in your quest for answers.

Boolean Search

Use these operators in your search: AND, OR, and NOT. They must capitalized.

Example: (search AND this) OR (find NOT that)

Qualifiers +, -

If a word MUST be on that page, use +

If a word is to be EXCLUDED, use -

Example: Diagnosis +cold, Burger -pickles

Search by phrase

If you want to match an exact phrase, use quotes around the query.

Example: "Find this phrase"

To match within a couple of words, use [square brackets].

To match within several words, use {braces or curly brackets}

Wildcards, * or ?

Use the asterisk * — Ending a word with * will reveal all words that begin the same way.

Example: Sea*

Use the question mark ? — All characters will try to fill that position.

Example: Tig?r

Combination

Any of these may be connected in the search.

"Berlin" +Germ*n?

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Angel Sierra is the Digital Production Coordinator at Sauk Valley Newspapers. Find something interesting in the world of science and technology? You can to write to him at asierra@svnmail.com. Your topic may be discussed in an upcoming blog!