google tips

Ah, google. We love you.

Here's some stuff you can do to make it even more crazy useful and fun.

#1 'Latest' results.

Google anything then click '+ Show Options' just below the search bar.


Then select 'latest' instead of 'any time' in the side bar that pops out.

If you're using the newer look google then the side bar will already be there.


Now you will start seeing the latest blog posts, tweets, articles etc which mention what you searched. The list will update every few seconds. This is quite fun to leave going during an event (I watched it as the iPad rolled out in the US).

#2 Use quotation marks ""

Putting search terms/phrases in quotation marks will make finding things much easier.

Using bare phrases is fine when they're commonly put together, like in a band name. But if you wanna find a certain phrase which often has its words separated, this is what you gotta do.

Say I wanted to find a page/article I read a while back, and all I can remember are some funny one-liners used. If I just tried to google those words i'd never get anywhere...


...but if I put them in quotation marks I'll be looking at exactly what I want straight away.

"Oh! That's what the site was..."


#3 Instant spelling and grammar checker
Google's the quickest way to check spelling while at your computer.
'definitely'? 'definitly'? Type in either and you'll be told what's right.

While not guaranteed, the wisdom of crowds can be used at the speed of google (faster than light?) to check if what you're saying is right.
'less than 10'? 'fewer than 10'? Try the same again and see what you get.

This won't give you an instant correct answer like googling a misspelt word, but with some quick checks you can quickly work out what's right.
For example, the only results that copy our phrase are the youtube videos, the rest have changed the phrase.

If the phrase you're looking up is a bit obscure, you can use tip #2 to find exactly what you want.