[access-uk] Re: A new search addition to Google
- From: "Amro Bilal" <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:22:17 -0000
Thanks for forwarding this, Peter. Quite helpful as I am one of those who
use the plus sign from time to time. One thing wasn't very clear from the
text though. Does the double quotation still work or the only option now is
to use this verbatim tool? As well, I wander if the minus sign function is
still valid?
Cheers,
Amro
_____
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Peter Bentley
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 8:05 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] A new search addition to Google
Google has been slightly modified so thought the below might be useful.
Peter Bentley
Behind the simplicity of Google search is a complex set of algorithms that
expands and improves the query you've typed to find the best results.
Automatic spelling correction ([vynal] to "vinyl") and substituting synonyms
(matching [pictures] to "photos") are just two examples of the improvements
we make.
In most cases, Google's algorithms make things better for our users - but in
some rare cases, we don't find what you were looking for. In the past, we
provided users with the "+" operator to help you search for specific terms.
However, we found that users typed the "+" operator in less than half a
percent of all searches, and two thirds of the time, it was used
incorrectly. A couple of weeks ago we removed the "+" operator, encouraging
the use of the double quotes, which are more likely to be used correctly.
Since then, we've received a lot of requests for a more deliberate way to
tell Google to search using your exact terms. We've been listening, and
starting today you'll be able to do just that through verbatim search. With
the verbatim tool on, we'll use the literal words you entered without making
normal improvements such as
.making automatic spelling corrections
.personalizing your search by using information such as sites you've visited
before
.including synonyms of your search terms (matching "car" when you search
[automotive])
.finding results that match similar terms to those in your query (finding
results related to "floral delivery" when you search [flower shops])
.searching for words with the same stem like "running" when you've typed
[run]
.making some of your terms optional, like "circa" in [the scarecrow circa
1963]
You can access the verbatim search tool under "More search tools" on the
left-hand side.
In addition to verbatim search, which will be rolling out to all users over
the next few days, we're also applying similar ideas directly to our
algorithms, such as tuning the accuracy of when our query broadening search
improvements trigger. In the meantime, if you want to search for a very
specific term, be that [carosel] or the [etymology of sissors], give the
verbatim tool a try.
Posted by Corin Anderson, Principal Engineer, Search"
http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2011/11/search-using-your-terms-verbatim.ht
ml
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