Google Tips & Secrets: Searching Shortcuts

It built the best engine, and the people came. Despite its many services, Google is a household name because of Search. With its incredibly fast algorithms and thousands of servers, Google delivers relevant results in what seems like nanoseconds.

 

#1
Fill in the blank with wild cards
Google will finish the sentence for you. Instead of asking "who invented the parachute?" enter "the parachute was invented by."

 

#2
Get the weather forecast any time
Typing "weather New York" gets you the five-day forecast complete with graphics.

 

#3 
Just the facts, ma'am
Type a fact-based question or query (such as "population of Japan") into the Google search box. You'll see the answer at the top of your search results.

 

#4
What's it mean?
To see a definition for a word or phrase, simply type the word "define," then a space, and then the word or words you want to know in the Google search box: "define Quagmire."

 

#5
Check the airports
To see delays and weather conditions at a U.S. airport, type its three letter code plus the word "airport."

 

#6 
Flight status
Check the status of a U.S. flight by typing the name of the airline followed by the flight number. For example, to see the status for United Airlines flight 134, search for "United 134."

 

#7 
Movie showtimes
Find reviews and showtimes for movies near you by typing "movies" or the name of a current film, along with your location (e.g., "Borat atlanta ga").

 

#8
Find your package
In the Google search box, enter the tracking number from the FedEx, UPS, or USPS package you just ordered or sent to see its progress.

 

#9
Restrict domains
Use Site Search to narrow searches to a top-level domain-choose among .org, .edu, .mil, .com, and .net. Here's one: "admissions site:www.mit.edu."

 

#10
For Douglas Adams fans
Google knows "the answer to life, the universe, and everything." Key it in and see.