Searching the Web

Lesson 3: Using Search Engines and Metasearch Engines

Using Required & Prohibited Operators

If the mere thought of learning and actively using Boolean Logic gives you an instant headache, then you might prefer using Required ( + ) and Prohibited ( - ) search operators. These operators (sometimes referred to as inclusion and exclusion operators) let you require (include) or prohibit (exclude) terms in a query. They strongly resemble the Boolean Logic AND and NOT operators, but seem to be easier for many people to grasp and remember.

Required +

To require a term in a search, type a plus sign in front of it. For example:

+honeymoon +disney +florida

Putting the required operator ( + ) in front of the word you are searchin for indicates that it MUST be on all of the pages included in the search results.

You can also use the required search operator with phrases. For example:

+”labrador retriever” +breeder +”new mexico”

In the search above, you are requiring that the two phrases (“labrador retriever” and “new mexico”) as well as the word breeder, be on ALL of the pages included in the search results.

Prohibited –

To prohibit a term in a search, type a minus sign in front of it. For example:

+honeymoon -disney +florida

Putting the prohibited operator ( - ) in front of the word you are searching for indicates that it MUST NOT be on any of the pages included in the search results. In the above example, you are indicating that you do not want any pages about honeymooning in Florida that include information about Disney.

As with the required operator, you can also use the prohibited search operator with phrases. Combined, these two search operators pack a powerful punch when it comes to zeroing in on your search goal.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Not all search tools permit the use of the required and prohibited operators, so read the help files or FAQ.
• Note the placement of the operators. The + or – goes right in front of the word or phrase, with no space in between. Use normal spacing between search terms.
• When using these operators, use a plus or minus in front of ALL search terms or phrases, as shown in the examples above.

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Try this!
Visit the Teoma search engine (http://www.teoma.com/) and try the searches below. Remember to use required ( + ) and prohibited ( - ) operators, as well as phrase searching techniques (quotation marks). Search for:

1. Apple pie recipes that include brown sugar
2. Apple pie recipes that don’t include brown sugar
3. Reviews of color printers that are compatible with Macintosh computers
4. Reviews of color printers that are not compatible with Macintosh computers

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