SEARCH ENGINES

Yahoo!

Google

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Excite!

Alta Vista   

Ask Jeeves

NOrthern Light

Dog Pile

California Law Codes

How To Use A Search Engine

Boolean Logic

   Most Search Engines use Boolean Logic to find the information that you want. The Search Engine determines if you want some, all or none of the key words you have used to be part of the documents it finds for you. Depending upon which Search Engine you use, the symbols (+, -, !, and, or, not, Xor) in various combinations will help you develop the most effective search.

Plusses, minuses, and exclamation marks

    The + (plus) operator is used to specify a word that MUST be included in the search.

    The - (minus) operator is used to specify a word that MUST be excluded.

    The ! (exclamation) operator is similar to the - (minus) operator. (not all engines use it)).

And, Or, Not, and Xor

    AND specifies words that "MUST" be included in the search.

    Or specifies words that "MAY" be included in the search.

    Not specifies words that "MUST" be excluded from the search.

    Xor specifies that "EITHER" word, but "NOT BOTH" may be included in the search.

Quoted Strings

    You may use an EXACT PHRASE in your search if you put it in "QUOTATIONS".

Parentheses

    You may group a number of items in a search by using (parentheses). The parentheses tells the search engine to handle the items inside the parentheses as a single lump of information.

Natural Language

    With Search Engines like "askjeeves.com" you can use Natural Language where you just ask a question rather than use a series of words.