[Web4lib] Why use the plus symbol before search terms when go ogling?

[Richard Wiggins]

I've always thought that Google's default treatment of common words as
stop words was unnecessarily scolding in nature.  My favorite example
was the old conundrum for online search services:

 to be or not to be

In the past Google complained that most of the phrase was common
words, to be ignored.  Check out what it does now -- use no plus
signs, no quotation marks.

Be sure to scroll down a bit.

/rich

On 9/7/05, Scritchfield, Larry <LScritch at mail.co.washoe.nv.us> wrote:
> The plus sign forces the search engine to search on stop words, no?
> 
> http://www.google.com/help/refinesearch.html
> 
> "Google ignores common words and characters such as where, the, how, and
> other digits and letters which slow down your search without improving the
> results. We'll indicate if a word has been excluded by displaying details on
> the results page below the search box.
> 
> "If a common word is essential to getting the results you want, you can
> include it by putting a "+" sign in front of it. (Be sure to include a space
> before the "+" sign.)
> 
> "For example, here's how to ensure that Google includes the "I" in a search
> for Star Wars, Episode I: Star Wars Episode +I"
> 
> Larry Scritchfield                       lscritch at mail.co.washoe.nv.us
> Internet Services Librarian                             (775) 327-8349
> Washoe County Library System                      www.washoe.lib.nv.us
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of John Fitzgibbon
> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 2:19 AM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Web4lib] Why use the plus symbol before search terms when
> googling?
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Why use the plus symbol before search terms when googling? Google
> automatically puts a Boolean And between search terms. Shouldn't this
> render the + symbol unnecessary? Is it best to search without the + or
> should I enter it anyway?
> 
> Just wondering.
> 
> John Fitzgibbon
> 
> Galway Public Library
> Island House
> Cathedral Square
> Galway
> Ireland
> 
> p: 00 353 91 562471
> f: 00 353 91 565039
> w: http://www.galwaylibrary.ie
> 
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