How to Search Google

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Since launching Google in 1998 the search engine has rapidly grown to be the default search engine for the Internet, due to the innovative search algorithm that ranks pages in relation to other pages on the Web. If you have heard people say "Google it", using the trademark as a verb, then you know just how ubiquitous Google is becoming. Here's how to do a basic Google search.

Steps

1. Open your Web browser. Do this by double clicking on the icon on your desktop, or in one of your control menus.
   
2. Type www.google.cominto the address bar on top of the page. You'll see a page with "Google" in big, colorful letters on the top.
   
3. Type your search in the rectangle that appears right under the word "Google". The blinking input cursor will already be in the search box, so just start typing.
   
4. Select the type of search you want. You can search for Web pages, newsgroups, images, news, books, videos or you can choose Advanced Search for more complex searches.
   
5. Click "Search", "I'm feeling Lucky" or press Return on your keyboard.
   
   • Search produces regular Google results, while "I'm Feeling Lucky" takes you directly to the first search result. Pressing Enter or Return gives you the default search.
     
   
   
6. Find the pages you are looking for, or modify your search for better results.
   
7. Take it a step further by learning Google search syntax.
   

Tips

• If you are having trouble finding what you are searching for, try putting your search string in quotation marks which makes Google find the whole string as a single "word" rather than searching for each word individually.
  
• You can set preferences for your Google searches by using the Preferences link next to the Google search box.
  
• You can place a minus sign in front a word that you want to omit from your search results.
  
• Place a + sign next to any word you want to be sure is included in your results page. This is only really needed if you want to include stopwords like and or the.
  
• When you add double quotes ( " ) around a phrase, Google will only show you the results that have those words in that order. For example, searching "I really like wikiHow" will only yield results in which the phrase "I really like wikiHow" is used.
  
• Many web browsers have a built in search box where you can search Google and other search engines. In that case you can type your search directly into that box and not actually load the site.
  
• Consider opening a Google account for access to Google's full suite of search and Internet tools.
  
• you may want to select the type of search before typing the search term
  

Warnings

• In your search results you may see sponsored links. These links may not be relevant to the term you searched for.
  
• Certain links may put your computer at risk. Be vigilant in visiting or downloading from any website you find through Google.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Get the Quickest and Most Accurate Results on Search Engines
  
• How to Add Customized Searches to Google Deskbar
  
• How to Use Google Talk
  
• How to Use the Google Calculator
  
• How to Set Up a Google Personalized Homepage
  
• How to Dig Deep Into Google
  
• How to Share Your Google Calendar
  
• How to Benefit from Google Earth
  
• How to Add a Christmas Countdown to Your Google Personalized Homepage
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.google.com
  
• http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/refinesearch.html - advanced search tips
  
• http://www.google.com/corporate/history.html - history of Google
  

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