Google Search Tip

When our memory decides to prevent us from recalling that one key word, phrase, or number we need in order to find what we are looking for, you can turn to the powerful asterisk "*" symbol. Just use this in the place of the word/phrase you can’t remember, and you should be able to find the results you are looking for. For example, junk* returns anything that has junk as a prefix, including junk itself. Junk * returns any phrase containing "junk".

Sometimes we urgently need to acquaint ourselves with events that occurred during a certain period of time. To do so, you can add a time frame to your search query with the help of three dots between the dates. For example, if we want to find out about scientific discoveries during the 20th century, we can write: scientific discoveries 1900...1999.

More Google Search Tips

Asterisk - Use an * (asterisk) in place of unknown word or words. This is great for song lyrics or quotes that you may only half remember. Alternatively, ones that are often misquoted. Example: Play * Sam.
Double Period - Use a double period between two numbers to convey ranges. This is handy for pricing, dates, and measurements. Example: Samsung TV buy $1000..$2000.
Define: - Use define: to learn the meaning of words, including slang. Example, define: mortgage.
Flip a Coin – Example: flip a coin. Google will actually show a coin spinning then land on heads or tails.

Some characters used for searching, such as ~ (tilde) for synonyms no longer works in Google.

Google Reverse Image Search

This is very handy if you want to find the origin of a photo you have randomly stumbled across on the web. For example, a plate of delicious looking food that you would love to know the recipe for.
Reverse image searching is also great for tracking down original photographers, identifying things (celebrities, flora and fauna, unlabelled products you want to buy), discovering where your own work may be getting used, and debunking fake social media posts and profiles.

You can do a reverse image search by going into the ‘images’ tab on Google and clicking on the camera icon in the search bar. You can then either upload an image to look for like images, or insert an image address (right click on an image and hit copy image address). Google will then deliver its best guess about the image. Incidentally, Google was formed during 1998 and Facebook during 2004.

Google Search Tip

When searching for solutions to a problem, add the word 'solved' at the end and more practical results should show up high on the list.

Two More Google Search Tips

Type "google patents" in a search bar, and the first hit you get will take you to Google Patent Search. Google and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office have struck an agreement, and you can now have access to more than 7 million patents, including drawings.

When searching for something and you only want current information, click on the 'search tools' on the left. It opens a list of other features, such as 'Past 24 hours', past week, etc. Try one, then click the search button again and it refines your search to whatever time you chose.