In Google Search, the plus sign (+) is used to ensure that a specific word is always included in your search results, appearing exactly as you typed it. This operator forces Google to return an exact match for the term immediately following the plus sign, overriding its usual tendency to look for synonyms or related terms.
Understanding the Exact Match Operator
When you place a plus sign directly before a word in your search query, you are instructing Google to include that precise word in every result.
- Placement is Key: The
+symbol must be placed immediately before the word, with no space in between. For example, to find content related to "The Onion" satirical newspaper, you would search for+The Onion, not+ The Onion. - Ensuring Precision: This operator is particularly useful when you need to specify a proper noun, a technical term, or any word that might otherwise be overlooked or substituted by Google's sophisticated search algorithms. It tells Google, "Do not consider synonyms; give me results containing this exact word."
Practical Applications and Examples
The + operator can refine your searches significantly, especially for niche or highly specific queries.
- Forcing Specific Names or Titles:
- To find articles about the satirical newspaper:
+The Onion - To search for content specifically about a person named John Doe:
+John Doe biography
- To find articles about the satirical newspaper:
- Clarifying Ambiguous Terms:
- If you're looking for information on the programming language Python, not the animal:
+Python programming tutorial - To ensure "Java" refers to the programming language and not the island or coffee:
+Java language tutorial
- If you're looking for information on the programming language Python, not the animal:
- Including Short or Common Words:
- Sometimes, Google might ignore common words (like "a," "the," "in") if it deems them irrelevant. Using
+can force their inclusion:How +to make origami(though often not necessary for common words anymore).
- Sometimes, Google might ignore common words (like "a," "the," "in") if it deems them irrelevant. Using
- Technical or Medical Terminology:
- When searching for very specific scientific or medical terms where exactness is crucial:
+mRNA vaccine side effects
- When searching for very specific scientific or medical terms where exactness is crucial:
When to Use (and When Not to Use) the Plus Operator
While powerful, the + operator should be used judiciously to avoid overly restricting your search results.
| Use Case | Example | Why It's Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Exact Word Requirement | +Shakespeare plays |
Ensures "Shakespeare" is present, differentiating from actors or generic "bard" content. |
| Ambiguous Terms | +Mercury planet features |
Distinguishes from the element, car, or Roman god. |
| Proper Nouns & Brand Names | +Spotify playlist creation |
Guarantees the specific brand name is in the results. |
| Avoiding Synonyms | +automobile history |
If you specifically want "automobile" and not "car" or "vehicle." |
| Generally Not Recommended For | Common words, general information | Can unnecessarily limit relevant results. For phrases, quotation marks are better. |
Alternatives and Modern Search Practices
It's important to note that for finding exact phrases, quotation marks ("phrase") are generally more effective than the + operator. For instance, "quick brown fox" will only return results where those three words appear together in that exact order.
While the + operator's role has evolved with Google's increasingly intelligent search algorithms, it remains a useful tool for specific scenarios where you absolutely need a particular word to be present in its exact form within your search results.
