How to Search for Phrases and Expressions in Search Engines

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: June 12, 2023

This describes some common techniques about how to search for multiple phrases, with possible logical expressions, in various search engines. Links to vendor specific search expressions could provide more precise search capabilities.

Steps

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid20290-v4-728px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

If you are looking for an exact phrase such as "to be or not be. That is the question" put the phrase in quotation marks. This will tell the search engine you want to search for this phrase being used verbatim around the web.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/aid20290-v4-728px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Think about words & phrases that can uniquely describe what you're searching. Bear in mind that some search engines automatically match multiple/conjugated forms of some words, while others require an exact match, even for singular or plural words. (Example: In 2005, AOL, A9, Google & Netscape by default also looked for some singular nouns or conjugated verbs "prevent"/ "preventing" and matched "e-mail" to "email"; whereas MSN Search & Yahoo required exact matches to words specified as spelled.)

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/aid20290-v4-728px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Enter connected phrases with hyphens or quotes as a single search-item, such as "baking German-chocolate-cake" or "secret-revelation robe": connecting separate words can pinpoint the search, whereas, putting many separate words would begin matching millions of webpages containing only a few of all the words (especially after more than 3 words/items are specified).
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/aid20290-v4-728px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Use logical connectors or parentheses for more complex searches such as: "blue-bird OR black-bird OR blackbird" to match any of several similar items, and find a blackbird as one or two words "black bird" etc.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/aid20290-v4-728px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Be prepared to "search within resulting webpages" to further pinpoint information that might be buried hundreds or thousands of pages down the list of matching pages.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/aid20290-v4-728px-Search-for-Phrases-and-Expressions-in-Search-Engines-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Consult the advanced-search help about whichever search engine is being used. Many search engines treat hyphenated words as equivalent to a phrase in quotation marks: To-be-or-not-to-be.

Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do I find a specific word on a webpage?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

Click on the page and then press Ctrl and F. This will pull up the search bar and you can enter your search terms here to so if they show up.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Think of what would be on a website.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
In other languages, the search for words, or the rank of resulting webpages, might be matched somewhat differently.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Warnings

Particular search engines can change their word-search strategy at any time, without notice. Be prepared for changes in how phrases are matched.

Thanks
Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
Some search engines contain very outdated webpages, many of which may no longer exist, because their host websites have been discontinued. If possible, use the remaining "ghost" webpage from the particular search engine cache to see the remaining information before it is erased from that search engine.

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3

How to Search for Phrases and Expressions in Search Engines

Steps

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

About this article

Is this article up to date?

You Might Also Like

Explore Categories