WR101 Amy Warren

Pro tip: It is often easier to find the information you're looking for via Google rather than through using the search feature embedded on an organization's website.

• How? Type your search terms into the search box. Then, add site:[URL] to search within an organization's website. 
  • Example: counseling site:clackamas.edu
• Why? Google offers a better search engine with a more complex search algorithm.
• Beware of shady or untrustworthy websites. Check the organization's URL to make sure you are on the official organization's website.

Learn more Google search tips below.

We all use it - now let's learn to use it better! Improving your Googling skills will save you time and make it easier to identify better sources of information. Tips and tricks are explained below.

1. Use quotation marks around your search terms to search for the words in the exact order you would like, instead of separately.

1. Use intitle: to retrieve webpages with your keywords in the title of the webpage

1. Use site:. to retrieve webpages from URLs in the domain (.gov, .edu, .org) you specify.  

1. Use - (a hyphen or minus sign) in front of words to exclude them from your search results.

1. Use OR in between words to have either or both of the words included in your search results. OR must be capitalized. This is a good way to search for synonyms.

In the above example, Google will find results that include (election AND fraud) and (voter AND fraud).

1. Use filetype: to retrieve specific types of files (instead of html webpages). Works for finding most file types.

1. Use several strategies at once for very specific results.