OJBs Web Site: Tip

Note: You are currently viewing my old web site. There is a new version with most of this content at OJB.NZ.
The new site is being updated, uses modern techniques, has higher quality media, and has a mobile-friendly version.
This old site will stay on-line for a while, but maybe not indefinitely. Please update your bookmarks. Thanks.

(Up to OJB's Mac Tips List Page)

Google Search Tips

These allow more precise searching using Google, by making your search query more precise by eliminating unwanted results, on increasing the number returned.

Use quotation marks "like this" to search for exact phrases instead of the individual words. For example, if I search for "Moon hoax" I will find pages with that exact phrase instead of sites about the Moon or about hoaxes in general.

Use a dash (minus sign) to remove unwanted results. This can be useful when a word might have multiple meanings in different contexts. For example, if I search for Apple prices I might see stuff about Apple computers and fruit, but if I search for Apple prices -computer I should see results without information about the computer company.

I've to to be honest here and say that even using apple prices -computer -iphone -ipad I still got a lot of results for the computer company, but at least fruit did feature in the results more!

To find information about several possible subjects use the vertical bar (|). This will find pages with any, all, or any combination of the words listed. For example, to find all pages containing apple or mac or iPhone, or any combination of these, use: apple|mac|iphone.

Use two dots to specify a range of numbers. For example, to find information about movies from 2011 to 2013 use: movies 2011..2013.

To find stuff on a particular site use the site: option. For example, to find pages containing the word apple on my site use apple site:ojb.nz.