Google can be a great resource, but it can also provide too much information. Some of this information may not be relevant to your topic. Applying the strategies suggested below can result in a Google search that is much more focused and relevant. 

Get more from Google

Smarter searching = more results.

Google has billions of results for so many searches...but you can narrow down your results to what you want with these easy tricks:

• ~ searches the word you want, plus synonyms or alternatives, for example, ~children.
• " " searches what's inside as a phrase, rather than separate words, for example, "childhood obesity."
• - what follows the minus is NOT included in the search, for example, -adults.
• site: searches only pages from that site or type of site, for example, site:.org.

Google gives more than just website results. Search for definitions by adding "define:" before the word you want. Like a specific search result? Get more like it by using "related:" and the webpage from your first search to see more like it.

You can always use Google's Advances Search, too: www.google.com/advanced_search.

Remember, keep it simple! Try the fewest words possible to start. For more tips, check out Google Advanced Search Guide.