Internet Search Tips

1. Learn how a search engine works. Although they all search for sites and information, they may vary slightly. Try a couple different engines to figure out which one works best for you.

2. Select your search terms carefully. Use terms that are specific to your topic. For example, instead of only entering the word “Maryland” enter the specific information you are looking for, such as “Maryland State Flag”. If your search terms are broad, you could get hundreds of thousands of websites.

3. Use Boolean Operators, which are words that allow you to combine search terms. Some Boolean operators and their uses are listed below:

“AND”: tells the search engine to find both terms on the same site

(Maryland AND flag tells the engine to find web pages that include both words

“OR”: tells the search engine to find one term or the other

(Maryland OR flag would tell the engine to look for one word or the other, but not necessarily both words)

“NOT”: instructs the engine to find one web pages that contain the first word, but not the second

(Maryland NOT flag would pull all pages that contain the word Maryland, but not the word flag)

4. To search for an exact phrase, put it in quotes, “Maryland State Flag”.

5. Use the “Advanced Search” options on the search engine you choose. This tool can help narrow down and minimize results. This is very helpful and can save you time in the long run!