--- title: How to refine your Google search; Common search techniques description: How to refine your Google search; Common search techniques --- [Skip to content](https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/how-to-refine-your-google-search-common-search-techniques#main-content) ![Conny-Söderholm](https://www.connysoderholm.com/hubfs/Conny-S%C3%B6derholm.svg) - [Home](https://www.connysoderholm.com/) - [Courses](https://www.connysoderholm.com/courses) - [Articles](https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog) - [Contact Me](https://www.connysoderholm.com/contact-me) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://www.connysoderholm.com/) - [Courses](https://www.connysoderholm.com/courses) - [Articles](https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog) - [Contact Me](https://www.connysoderholm.com/contact-me) July 11, 2018 # How to refine your Google search; Common search techniques ![Picture of Conny Söderholm](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/c60eb763b898c1f4c2e54f9401f3aef1) [Conny Söderholm](https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/author/conny-soderholm) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/how-to-refine-your-google-search-common-search-techniques) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/how-to-refine-your-google-search-common-search-techniques) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/how-to-refine-your-google-search-common-search-techniques) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/how-to-refine-your-google-search-common-search-techniques) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/how-to-refine-your-google-search-common-search-techniques) # How to refine your [Google](http://www.google.com) search; Common search techniques Why do you need to improve your Google search? Most of the times, we find the information we need quite fast. Sometimes we may spend a lot of time looking for information. By using these operators, you will hopefully find what you search for a lot quicker and easier. ## The operators: ### The or | operator The or | operator is helpful for searching for something that you are not sure what the name was. You can either write "or" or use the pipe sign |. For example, search for *Tom Bill*, and you will get a lot of Toms and Bills and Tom Bill himself. If you write Tom | Bill, you'll get Tom Cruise and Bill Gates. ### Including an exact word with quotation marks "" You can include exact words with the quotation marks. Using quotation marks are useful when you want to make sure that you include a certain word in the search. Searching for [*best burger in Helsinki 2015*](https://www.google.com/search?biw=1600&bih=767&ei=SUJGW5LyEMbB6ASo1rPIBg&q=best+burger+in+Helsinki+2015&oq=best+burger+in+Helsinki+2015) will not yield as many results from 2015 as* [best burger in Helsinki "2015"](https://www.google.com/search?q=best+burger+in+Helsinki+%222015%22&oq=best+burger+in+Helsinki+%222015%22)* would. You can also write the whole search sentence in quotation marks. Google will thus include just results with the whole matched sentence. Searching *["best burger in Helsinki 2015"](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22best+burger+in+Helsinki+2015%22&oq=%22best+burger+in+Helsinki+2015%22) *reveals that Kämp had the best burger 2015. ### Excluding a word with the hyphen - sign. Different searches can yield different results depending on what context the words are using. If you are a Star Wars fan like me, you can search for [Star Wars -"episode IX"](https://www.google.com/search?biw=1600&bih=767&ei=6UFGW-3mMImVmwWc1oewDA&q=Star+Wars+-"episode+IX"&oq=Star+Wars+-"episode+IX") to exclude the upcoming episode. ### Search within site with the *site:* operator You can search within a site with the site operator. For example, say that you want to find everything related to Tkinter on my website. You write [site:connysoderholm.com Tkinter](https://www.google.com/search?biw=1600&bih=767&ei=4UFGW4SPGcKUmwXe_K7oBA&q=site%3Aconnysoderholm.com+Tkinter&oq=site%3Aconnysoderholm.com+Tkinter), and Google now lists all results with Tkinter from my site. ### Using the asterisk \* wild card You can use the \* sign to replace a word in your search. Searching for [*fastest \* in* Europe](https://www.google.fi/search?q=fastest+*+in+Europe&oq=fastest+*+in+Europe) reveals the fastest roller coasters, internet, companies, and cars in Europe. ### Search within a range Don't know the exact number? Use the number to number search. A search for[tablet $700..$900 ](https://www.google.com/search?ei=K0VGW82rFtKTmwXpnYG4Bw&q=tablet+%24700..%24900&oq=tablet+%24700..%24900)shows us some various results for tablets in the price range of 700 to 900 dollars. ### Searching for related sites You can write *related: *to see similar sites to the one you search for. Typing, for example [related: foreship.com](https://www.google.fi/search?ei=p0ZGW-n-CbOSmgX11YyICQ&q=related%3A+foreship.com&oq=related%3A+foreship.com) shows related content to the Foreship website. ## Related posts [Python](https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/tag/python) ## [How to search for files on your computer faster with Python](https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/search-files-on-your-computer-faster-with-python) ![Picture of Conny Söderholm](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/c60eb763b898c1f4c2e54f9401f3aef1) [Conny Söderholm](https://www.connysoderholm.com/blog/author/conny-soderholm) June 28, 2018 How to search for files on your computer faster with Python When I use the Windows Explorer search... 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