[Libs-Or] Tech-Talk: INTERNET - Using Symbols for Better Search Results

Thu Sep 4 08:30:06 PDT 2025

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Fond Farewell to Deb ... Warm Welcome to Eileen and Erik

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What do you do when your partner of 20 years changes directions and moves into the wellness industry: teaching, coordinating, supporting? Yes, Deb is starting a whole new life segment this September! We wish her well!

So, we build a new team to fill her shoes, right? Welcome Eileen Anderson (writing) and Erik Handy (video and support)! They have come up the learning curve quickly and have been a treasure to find. You'll be pleased I'm sure!

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Webinars for You

NOTE: Webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long.

September 10: [EXCEL] From Boring to Brilliant: Spreadsheet Formatting Made Easy Why Attend: You want to learn more about polishing your spreadsheets.

September 24: [OFFICE] Office Design Secrets: How to Make Your Documents Pop Why Attend: You want to uplevel your design skills.

October 8: [EXCEL] Tired of Drab Reports? Pivot Tables Will Change Everything! Why Attend: You want a quick way to learn to create pivot tables.

October 22: [LEADERSHIP] Meeting Mastery: Skills Every Leader Needs Why Attend: You want to learn how to lead meetings that are focused, respectful, and productive.

View Webinars and Register Here<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001sJyxp4yUS3DWtOAiwDy94_1YK4AXtifvDfZ6VAJpUxPnm2Z8E1QNswZeWGjlWAoW8ALiKFr7fTIUb5T3-Ie3HGfK98bjrYlaSNj9hOGRmSx7X2G1ucCH4uugbLUzKtCUYDTl3fl9cOAmGot7csvnbB7nlMA8UijZEMVYpWBALX0=&c=3MMw-W61ytkr12YI0FLO58k8eNjeiElC74DD1KXnh3tynQANXCWlDg==&ch=ANJkAp7i-dDzDQWH_TTIPzU9D8DU5wORNhv50u5DHfG2dghavLtVCA==>

INTERNET - Using Symbols for Better Search Results

Intermediate

[White globe and magnifying glass icon on a wavy abstract grid background symbolizing internet search .]

Have you ever searched online… and still couldn’t find what you wanted? Maybe you had trouble remembering the exact name of the product. Or you wanted results that combined two ideas. Perhaps you kept seeing the wrong thing over and over.

That’s where search symbols and operators can save the day! They’re special characters you type into the search box to help narrow your results and save time.

Let’s look at three (3) techniques using these symbols to find exactly what you want!

1. Finding the Exact Match and Keeping Terms Together

When you put a word or phrase inside quotes, the search engine looks for the exact wording. It only shows the results with the words together in the same order.

Examples:
1.  “George Washington Carver” You’ll see pages with his full name, not just George Washington.
2.  “Renewable energy” This shows only results where those two words appear together. You won't find any with just energy.

[Close-up of a persons hands typing on a laptop keyboard on a dark surface.]
2. Leave Out Words You Don't Want

Add a minus sign (-) right before a word to remove it from your search results. This is handy when a term has more than one meaning.

Examples:
1.  “Apple pie recipe” -pinterest. Here we combined exact results with quotes AND excluding a word. You’ll see results of apple pie recipes, but not from the Pinterest website.
2.  Jaguar -car. This shows information about the animal, not the car brand.

3. Fill in the Blank

The asterisk (*) is a wildcard. It stands in for one or more unknown words in your search. Use it when you can’t remember a complete phrase, want variations, or need multiple possibilities.

Examples:
1.  Canon PowerShot *400 Camera This finds “Canon PowerShot SX400,” “Canon PowerShot ELPH3400,” and other similar names.
2.  “Best * for beginners” This shows you results like “best camera for beginners”, “best books for beginners”, or “best apps for beginners.”

TIP: You can combine these symbols and operators to get even more precise results!

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Communications: Talking

The #1 Most Powerful Phrase

Today's powerful sentence reveals much needed information and perspective whenever you use it. No matter what someone says to you, making a simple reply (such as "thank you" or "Hmmm") and then asking: What makes you say that can change the whole direction of the conversation.

BE sure to ask it before you start to give your real answer or make a comment. If you do this, it can result in a whole new understanding of what your colleague had in mind.

If it’s a contentious situation, asking, “What makes you say that?” can add some clarity or it can bring to the surface the underlying issue.

If it’s a suggestion made in a project discussion, asking, “What makes you say that?” may reveal a concern or an alternative perspective.

If it’s a situation where you’ve just received a compliment, asking, “What makes you say that?” will result in your hearing something you did not expect … and which will make the nice comment even more meaningful

The Secret to Getting a Great Response

OK, just rebounding with, “What makes you say that?” has a certain art to it because you don’t want to come across as challenging or difficult.

The secret is to acknowledge the person’s statement first in a non-committal way. That way they know you heard them and are ready to listen.

For example, when someone says something, you reply with…
·     “OK … what makes you say that?”
·     “Yes … what makes you say that?”
·     “Interesting … what makes you say that?”
·     “Hmm … what makes you say that?”

And second, say in a light-hearted, oh-by-the-way-manner, “What makes you say that?”

Try using this technique just for fun to see what happens. Maybe challenge yourself to use it three times in one day. That ought to plant the idea firmly in your communications resource bucket!

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When was the last time you visited the Tech-Talk online resource? It has all kinds of fun ways to solve issues, discover new ideas, and hone your skills!

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We're here to help!

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Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
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State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
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