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Google introduced an advanced search feature thatGoogle introduced an advanced search feature thatenables users to search not only for a particular enables users to search not only for a particular keyword, but also for its synonyms.keyword, but also for its synonyms.

SynonymSynonym

The ~ character wasThe ~ character waschosen because it'schosen because it'sshorthand for shorthand for approximate and aapproximate and a

good way for users togood way for users toexpress their wish toexpress their wish toexpand searches toexpand searches toinclude synonyms.include synonyms.

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C heck out the synonyms for C heck out the synonyms for job.job.

~job =~job = job, jobs, salary, career, employment, recruitmentjob, jobs, salary, career, employment, recruitmentand vacancy.and vacancy.

SynonymSynonym cont«.cont«.

A few more examples that may be of use to you.A few more examples that may be of use to you.

~alumni = school, reunion, high, high school~alumni = school, reunion, high, high school~directory = yellow pages, white pages, white page~directory = yellow pages, white pages, white pagelistings, numberslistings, numbers~openings = jobs, opportunities, employment, vacancies~openings = jobs, opportunities, employment, vacancies~software = software, freeware, shareware, driver ~software = software, freeware, shareware, driver ~qa = quality assurance, testing, software quality~qa = quality assurance, testing, software qualityassuranceassurance

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S earch Recommendation 4S earch Recommendation 4

Recommendation:Recommendation: Use synonyms via theUse synonyms via theOROR operator operator

Example:Example: treatmenttreatment OROR therapytherapyWhy important:Why important: cover the likely differentcover the likely differentways a concept can be described.ways a concept can be described.Generally avoid OR in other casesGenerally avoid OR in other cases

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S ynonymsS ynonyms

How do you find S ynonymsHow do you find S ynonyms - - ThesaurusThesaurusI.e. for ³Buffalo´ C onsider I.e. for ³Buffalo´ C onsider

±± BisonBison±± Endangered S peciesEndangered S pecies

Googles ³~´Googles ³~´

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AS A GENER AL RU L E, YOUAS A GENER AL RU L E, YOUSH OU LD ALWA YS P LAC ESH OU LD ALWA YS P LAC EYOUR M AI N S UBJE CT T O BEYOUR M AI N S UBJE CT T O BEEVAL UAT ED F IRST .EVAL UAT ED F IRST .This is because many search enginesThis is because many search enginesdetermine the rank order of documentdetermine the rank order of documentresults by relevance, with first query termsresults by relevance, with first query termsto be evaluated ranked higher.to be evaluated ranked higher.

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A remarkable documentA remarkable document- -type index feature openstype index feature opens

up a gold mine of data previouslyup a gold mine of data previouslyimpossible to search.impossible to search.

File extensions are extremely important,File extensions are extremely important,especially within theespecially within the InternetInternet andand WebWebenvironment. File extensions instructenvironment. File extensions instructbrowsers, and other applications as tobrowsers, and other applications as tohow tohow to handlehandle , or use a file., or use a file.

D ocument based queriesD ocument based queries

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Without correct file extensions, applications may not beWithout correct file extensions, applications may not beable to properly access or process a file. The file nameable to properly access or process a file. The file nameextension is typically used to identify the file type.extension is typically used to identify the file type.S ometimes these files will simply show up in regular S ometimes these files will simply show up in regular search results but for the power searcher, the searchsearch results but for the power searcher, the searchengines do offer special features to look specifically for engines do offer special features to look specifically for documents in a certain file format or documents in a certain file format or to exclude such documents.to exclude such documents.

C ommon extensions include .doc for C ommon extensions include .doc for Microsoft Word documents, .pdf for Microsoft Word documents, .pdf for Adobe Acrobat PDF, and .xls for Adobe Acrobat PDF, and .xls for Microsoft Excel.Microsoft Excel.

D ocument based queries cont«D ocument based queries cont«

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You can search specifically for this files by usingYou can search specifically for this files by usingthe search command ³filetype´the search command ³filetype´

Example:Example:resume "Account Manager" "Nortel Networks´resume "Account Manager" "Nortel Networks´filetype:docfiletype:doc

Of the hundreds of different file types available, onlyOf the hundreds of different file types available, onlya few are commonly found on the Web. Google anda few are commonly found on the Web. Google andAlltheWeb have the most extensive coverage of fileAlltheWeb have the most extensive coverage of filetypes.types.

D ocument Type Search cont«D ocument Type Search cont«

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"L ucent Technologies " phone filetype:xls"L ucent Technologies " phone filetype:xls

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Adobe Portable Document Format (pdf)Adobe Portable Document Format (pdf)Adobe Post S cript (ps)Adobe Post S cript (ps)

C orel WordPerfect (wpd, wp5, wp6, wp7) C orel WordPerfect (wpd, wp5, wp6, wp7)Lotus 1Lotus 1- -22--3 (wk1, wk2, wk3, wk4, wk5, wki, wks, wku)3 (wk1, wk2, wk3, wk4, wk5, wki, wks, wku)

Lotus WordPro (lwp)Lotus WordPro (lwp)MacWrite (mw)MacWrite (mw)Microsoft Excel (xls)Microsoft Excel (xls)Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt)Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt)Microsoft Word (doc)Microsoft Word (doc)Microsoft Works (wks, wps, wdb)Microsoft Works (wks, wps, wdb)Microsoft Write (wri)Microsoft Write (wri)Rich Text Format (rtf)Rich Text Format (rtf)Text (ans, txt)Text (ans, txt)

D ocument TypesD ocument Types

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Y ou should know Boolean and other search features well enough toY ou should know Boolean and other search features well enough touse them effectively.use them effectively. The less these skills are present, the more youThe less these skills are present, the more youwill need to rely on the search engine's default mode.will need to rely on the search engine's default mode.

Because there are so many variables,Because there are so many variables,it is not easy to provide clear, surefireit is not easy to provide clear, surefirerules for when to use Boolean andrules for when to use Boolean andother search techniques.other search techniques.

Instead you should:Instead you should:Be willing to try each approachBe willing to try each approachIf one option doesn't work, try another If one option doesn't work, try another Know the advanced features that are available to youKnow the advanced features that are available to you

Searching SkillsSearching Skills