A Guide to Good Googling: The Basics

We all use Google. After all, it’s the world’s most popular search engine. The Internet is a gargantuan place, and Google does a great job at finding what you need in a matter of seconds. It’s very easy to use – type what you’re looking for into the search bar, click ‘Google Search’ and you’re off! Trawling through thousands (or potentially millions) of search results can often be tedious, especially if you’re looking for a specific website with a vague search. There are a number of ways to get quick information from Google. It saves time, effort and you’ll feel like a Google whizz! Here are just a few shortcuts for good Googling!

If you need to work out a quick sum in a pinch, Google’s the place for you. For the 4 basic functions, simply use +, -, * and / to add, subtract, multiply and divide. For example:

You can also perform more complex functions, like finding the percentage of a number (‘60% of 400 = 240’), finding the nth root of something (‘5th root of 32 = 2’) and finding the remaining number after division (’23 mod 5 = 3′). It’s essentially an ultra-fast, super efficient calculator, right at your fingertips.

Google is also great for conversions, whether it’s weights and measurements, temperature or even currency. Simply type “x to y” into the search bar, and you’ll have your answer in seconds (e.g. 100g to ounces or 300 dollars to pounds).

With Google Glossary, you can define words faster than you can say “dictionary”. Simply type “Define:” and your word of choice into the search bar, and Google will do the work for you!

The world’s favourite search engine is perfect for finding out basic information. If you want to know the birthday of your favourite celebrity or the day a famous scientist died, you won’t need to go to the trouble of sifting through a Wikipedia article – just Google it!

You can also find out when films have been initially released (‘Avatar release date’), when companies were founded (‘Microsoft founded’), and even the time, anywhere in the world!

 What sets Google apart from other search engines is the fact that it allows you to find out basic information without having to look for separate web pages. Many people aren’t aware that, with the right phrasing, Google itself can provide you with all the information you need. Don’t waste time trawling through search engine results, utilize Google itself – Become a Good Googler!