Research+Tips+-+Online

=Research Tips - Online=

If you are a Google junkie, here are a few tips to help you narrow your results:
– This will eliminate all of the .coms, .nets, etc.
 * Add __site:edu__ or __site:org__ after your words
 * Add -site.___ to eliminate specific types of websites ( -site.com eliminates commercial websites)
 * Use a ~ in front of a word and your search will also look for synonyms of that word
 * Put double quotes " " around a words to search words in that exact order ("student of the month")
 * Use + between words to force the search to include them all (player + of + the + week)
 * Use - right next to the second word to exclude it (bison -buffalo)
 * Use OR between words if you want either word (bison OR buffalo)
 * Use * to fill in a blank (Edgar Allan Poe died in * or George Lucas directed the movie * in *)

Additional Google tips:

 * Use __define:__ before a word to get a list of definitions
 * Type a problem into the search box and it will calculate it for you (16/20 will give you 16/20 = 0.8)

Search engines are different than subject directories.

 * __Search engines__ like Google search the entire world wide web.
 * __Subject directories__ like Yahoo search websites that human beings have researched.
 * You'll get fewer results, but maybe better ones for research.
 * __Vary__ your __search terms__ – changing just one word in the search box can give you different results.