10 Search Operators to Help You Search Google Like a Pro
ASTERISK
Searches for a missing word in phrase.
Example: Obama was president for * years
SITE:
Only shows search results from a specific website.
Example: site: 1000lifehacks.com
TWO PERIODS
Searches between two specific numbers.
Example: Number 1 movies between 1980.. 1990
VERTICAL BAR
Searches for sites that have one/two/all terms.
Example: blouse | shirt | chemise
OR
Search with multiple synonyms to get more specific results.
Example: Literacy OR Learning
% OF
Instantly get the percentage of any number.
Example: 12% of 75
FILETYPE:
Search for a specific type of file.
Example: Declaration of Independence filetype:pdf
DASHES
Excludes a certain word from your search.
Example: Homer -Simpson
QUOTATION MARKS
Searches for exact the words, quotes, or phrases you’re looking for.
Example: “I have a dream”
DEFINE:
Gets a quick definition of a word.
Example: define: perplexed
When you copy something from the Internet, use “Ctrl + Shift + V” to paste it into a document. This will prevent the text from formatting.
Use your own original gifs in presentations by adding “gif” before the word “youtube” in the URL. Doing this allows you to create your own gif using the video.
You can press “1,” “2,” “3,” etc. to jump 10%, 20%, 30% into the video you’re watching on YouTube.
Forget slow double clicks! Press “F2” on a PC and “Enter/Return” on a Mac to immediately rename a file.
Need specific date ranges for a project? You can search “[month][year]” in Wikipedia to give you all the major world news for that month.
If you’re on a school computer that blocks sites like YouTube, Google Chrome’s incognito mode will let you access them.
Hold down “Alt” and click on any Google image to have it automatically saved to your computer.
The iPhone app Scholly shows you thousands of potential scholarship opportunities that any student can apply for.
www.Mathway.com solves all kinds of math homework problems with step-by-step explanations.
Get the best possible sound from your iTunes by replicating these presets on the Equalizer.
Need your phone’s battery to make it to the end of class? Turning the flash off on your cell phone camera can extend your battery life even when you’re not actually using the camera!
Cleaning out your Windows computer? Search “size:gigantic” and it’ll display all the files on your computer greater than 128 MB.
You can amplify the sound on your computer by cutting a plastic cup vertically in half and placing each half over a speaker.
Want to make sure you get up in the morning for class? The Snooze app for iPhone will donate some of your money to charity each time you hit the snooze button.
Need to cite a quote from a book? Don’t bother looking through every page to find it! Simply type the quote into Google Books and it will tell you the page number automatically.
Forgot about an assignment and need to e-mail it? Change the date on your computer system before sending it to your professor.
Accidentally close a tab in your Internet browser? Press “Ctrl + Shift + T” to reopen it.
Need to edit an image quickly? On SumoPaint.com you can use an online version of Photoshop for free.
If you talk into the microphone instead of typing in Snapchat, you can send longer messages to your friends.
By charging your laptop battery only up to 80% instead of 100%, you can greatly extend the usable lifespan of the battery.
Too many Internet tabs open while doing homework? Simply right click on it and select “pin tab.” Boom! Way more organized.
An iPad charger will charge your iPhone much faster.
How to boost the Wi-Fi in your dorm room:
Place an X-Acto knife just below the top rim of a beer or soda can and carefully cut through the can.
Now, place the knife just above the bottom rim of the can and cut through.
Using scissors, cut the aluminum in half vertically.
Spread the aluminum around your Wi-Fi