Posted to GEN-COMP-TIPS-L by Kathi Reid and reposted here with her permission. Google synonyms The tilde ~ (that squiggly line that is on the very upper left of your keyboard to the left of the number 1 key) is Google's newest operand. Now you can search not only for a particular keyword, but also for its synonyms. Indicate a search for both by placing the tilde sign ("~") immediately in front of the keyword. A search for ~genealogy will now give results for genealogy, family history and family tree. A search for ~obits will now give results including obits, obituaries, and death notices. Try your query word with and without the tilde to notice the variation in search results. For more on understanding how Google works with many Google tips and tricks, go to http://searchforancestors.com/archives/google.html Google as a dictionary There are now two ways to find word definitions using Google. --To use Google's dictionary, type a word into the Google search box. Click Search, then click on your word on the blue bar on the Google results page, after the words [ searched the web for ] . Google will give the definition using Dictionary.com. --Google has always had a dictionary, but now you can type in the word [define ] followed by a space, and then the word or phrase you want defined. For example: [ define apoplexy ] or [ define inst ] or [ define [wheelwright ]. Google will give the web definition at the top of the search results. You can also click on "More defintions" for further variations, and the websites where the defintions are found. Both are great for: --Antiquated disease names, such as apoplexy, dropsy, phthisis, or quinsy. --Acronyms found on old documents or obituaries such as IOOF or AOH. --Names for old-fashioned occupations such as cordwainer or wheelwright. --Latin terms such as ab nepos. --Terms found in old documents such as perch or rod. Google and abbreviations HOWTO When using Google, watch your abbreviations! Google searches for the *exact* word entered. If you search for a location name, it searches for webpages that contain that name. If in your search query, you use the location abbreviation, Google doesn't convert the abbreviation to the whole name, but rather searches only for web pages that use the location abbreviation only! For example, Google does not consider Pennsylvania and PA to be the same. If you type in PA, Google will search for those pages with PA only, and your search will miss all the web pages that use the word Pennsylvania. Try searching Google for [ PA genealogy ], then [Pennsylvania genealogy], (or substitute your own location name and abbreviation), and compare the different results for each search. Using the abbreviated location name to search for current addresses such as a historical society can sometimes be successful, but if it doesn't bring results, be sure to try the full name. However, when searching for transcriptions of old data, you can widen your search by using the old-fashioned abbreviation. Here's a list of the old style US state abbreviations. http://searchforancestors.com/archives/oldstateabb.html ****** It's not just locations where you should watch abbreviations. Don't use abbreviations for descriptive keywords for your Google queries. I am the Webmaster of a US Civil War site, and I see many people get no matches on their site searches because they use abbreviated words such a regt or reg't for regiment, or co for company. Google does not think that regiment and regt are the same. If you abbreviate a search keyword, you won't get complete and accurate search results. In this case, Google will only give results of web pages that use the abbreviation regt only, and you will miss all the webpages that use the word regiment. Search Google by location HOWTO Now you can search google by location at http://labs.google.com/location Want to know where all the cemeteries are in a particular town? Search google by location. Enter cemetery into the search terms box, and the town and state into the location box. Not only do you get a list of all the cemeteries along with addresses and websites, they are plotted on a Mapquest map. You can search for Methodist Churches in a town, or Catholic cemeteries, or newspapers, libraries, and historical societies, etc. Google search by location might be useful to help locate the nearest church to where you ancestors lived. The caveat for genealogists is that the current churches, cemeteries, newspapers you will get from the search results may not be in the same names or location as 100 years ago. With Google by location, you get different results if you use singular or plural, and so far it only works for US addresses. Search by location is in Beta (testing) at Google Labs. What is Google Labs? Google says "Google labs showcases a few of our favorite ideas that aren't quite ready for prime time. Your feedback can help us improve them. Please play with these prototypes and send your comments directly to the Googlers who developed them. " So go ahead and play, then let Google know how you think about this could be made more useful to genealogists. Google Directory HOWTO If you want to search with a query for the broad subject matter such as Ireland genealogy, enter that search term into the Google search box. When you get the search results, go immediately to the tab on the top of the results that says "directory" and click on it. The directory is a human-edited classified listing of URLs. This is different from regular Google search results which are retrieved based on a computer search algorithm or formula . And sometimes that human touch helps weed out irrelevant results when you are searching for a broad category. When you perform the Ireland genealogy search click on the directory, Google lists Genuki first, which is exactly where you should head if you are searching Irish Genealogy. Google next list the National Archives of Ireland, etc. Click on Regional > Europe > Ireland > Society and Culture > Genealogy at the top of the Google page. This takes you inside the Google directory. Try this with your own location. Here's the Google Directory for genealogy http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Genealogy/ Head over to the human-edited Google directory, click around on the different categories, and take a good look around. http://searchforancestors.com/archives/google.html Tips for Using Google in your Genealogy Searches http://searchforancestors.com/google/searcher.html Easy Google Genealogy Searcher -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com All outgoing mail virus free, scanned by Norton