Power
searching allows you to find specific information on the Web using a particular
search engine and specific command codes. Here is a partial list of major
search engines:
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AltaVista (www.altavista.com)
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HotBot (www.hotbot.com)
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Yahoo(www.Yahoo)
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Excite (www.Excite)
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Knowing how to use the specific commands
to clarify the search is very important. It can save you a lot of time.
The majority of the commands are accepted in most search engines;
however, each uses some varied techniques. One of the most popular and
largest engines is Alta Vista. The comands are as follows:
+
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This plus sign in front of a word means the engine
MUST (rather than SHOULD) find web sites which include the term |
-
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The minus sign eliminates words that you do NOT want included. |
" "
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Quotation marks mean the full phrase must be
found. |
*
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Use this asterisk symbol as an all inclusive wildcard.
For example if you were searching for the subject vanity, a "* " after
"vanit" would look for all words with that root, i.e. vanities, vanity. |
no symbol
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No symbol in front of a word indicates the word is non-
essential, but should be included in hits when found. |
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