Have you been searching for some new music to listen to, a new author to read, or a new travel destination to visit? By using some simple search techniques in an internet search tool, you can mine the wisdom and opinion of millions of internet users to find things similar to what you like.
Firstly we need to explore phrase searching. Google and most other search engines enable you to search for phrases by enclosing your search words in inverted commas. Typing “Sydney ferry timetables” will force Google to search for those three words as they appear in the phrase, not as separate words within a webpage. This can dramatically increase the accuracy of your search results.
By using this technique and a few different search phrases, you can make new discoveries based on other people’s opinions. If you are searching for music similar to your favourite band (we’ll use the band Coldplay as an example), use a phrase like “reminds me of Copldplay”, or “similar to Coldplay”, or “sounds like Coldplay”. In the results you should find websites and blogs where people are discussing a band or artist that they think sounds like your favourite band.
To find reviews that are more opinionated, try using a phrase like “better than”, for example “better than Melbourne”.
Phrase searching can also be useful for finding answers to questions. Simply imagine how the answer you are looking for would be written, then search for that phrase. For example, if you want to find the longest river in the world, your search phrase would be “the longest river in the world is”.
Need help searching the web? Contact your local CityLibrary branch:
CityLibrary Aitkenvale 4727 8312
CityLibrary Flinders Mall 4727 9665
CityLibrary Thuringowa 4773 8601 or infodesk@townsville.qld.gov.au
Firstly we need to explore phrase searching. Google and most other search engines enable you to search for phrases by enclosing your search words in inverted commas. Typing “Sydney ferry timetables” will force Google to search for those three words as they appear in the phrase, not as separate words within a webpage. This can dramatically increase the accuracy of your search results.
By using this technique and a few different search phrases, you can make new discoveries based on other people’s opinions. If you are searching for music similar to your favourite band (we’ll use the band Coldplay as an example), use a phrase like “reminds me of Copldplay”, or “similar to Coldplay”, or “sounds like Coldplay”. In the results you should find websites and blogs where people are discussing a band or artist that they think sounds like your favourite band.
To find reviews that are more opinionated, try using a phrase like “better than”, for example “better than Melbourne”.
Phrase searching can also be useful for finding answers to questions. Simply imagine how the answer you are looking for would be written, then search for that phrase. For example, if you want to find the longest river in the world, your search phrase would be “the longest river in the world is”.
Need help searching the web? Contact your local CityLibrary branch:
CityLibrary Aitkenvale 4727 8312
CityLibrary Flinders Mall 4727 9665
CityLibrary Thuringowa 4773 8601 or infodesk@townsville.qld.gov.au
