Q&A: ideas to turn information into inspiration

Volume I, Issue I

The Legend — and Lesson — of Googlewhack!

What is Googlewhacking? The goal of Googlewhacking is to find that elusive two-word search query (with no quotation marks) that ends with a single, solitary result. When Googlewhacking was "born" (circa 2002), it was all about the search for "the one"—the one search result that would be unique among all the web pages making up the World Wide Web.

Since then, the Web has multiplied dramatically—and discovering a true Googlewhack is even harder. But the lesson at the core of Googlewhacking is more relevant today than ever before.

The lesson that Googlewhacking has to offer is the importance of being specific upfront in creating your search request parameters. You want your search results to be as relevant as possible, thereby eliminating wasted time and effort on the backend sorting through information that had no value for your current research need.

Here are three tips that can help you maximize the effectiveness of your next online search:

Choosing search terms – Start with the obvious. If you are looking for information on Cancun, try Cancun. But it can often help to use multiple search terms. If you are planning a spring break trip to Cancun, you will do better with vacation Cancun than with either vacation or Cancun separately. Ask yourself if your search terms are specific enough. It is better to search on discount hotels Cancun than on Caribbean discount hotels. Select your search terms carefully because each search engine will look for the terms you choose. Discount hotels Cancun will probably deliver better results than really cheap but nice places to stay in Cancun.

Phrase searches – When you need information that must include an exact phrase, it is best to simply put quotation marks around your search terms ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"). Phrase search can be extremely effective when you are searching for proper names ("George Washington Carver"), lyrics ("Kiss today goodbye"), and – wouldn't you know – famous phrases ("one small step for man").

Negative terms – If your search term has more than one meaning (diamond, for example, could refer to a gemstone or to a shape, like a baseball diamond), you may focus your search by putting a minus sign ("-" and be sure to include a space before the minus sign) in front of words related to the meaning that you want to avoid. Searching for information on the world's largest diamond –baseball can help you find pages about the world's largest diamond gem, but not the world's largest baseball diamond.

Do you write in plain English?

Plain English writing can express a wide range of notions, from the simple to the complex. It is easier to read and often easier to write. But what is plain English?

According to Edward P. Bailey Jr., Plain English at Work: A Guide to Writing and Speaking (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) 3, plain English is a way of expressing ideas clearly in writing and speaking:

What is plain English?

Plain English, to put it simply, is a way of expressing your ideas clearly in writing and speaking. As for plain English writing, I think of it as having three parts:

Style. By style, I mean how to write clear, readable sentences. My advice is simple: write more the way you talk. This may sound simple, but it's a powerful metaphor that can revolutionize your writing.
Organization. I suggest starting with your main point almost all the time. That doesn't mean it has to be your first sentence (though it can be)—just that it should come early and be extremely easy to find.
Layout. This is the appearance of the page and your words on it. Headings, bullets, and other techniques of white space help your reader see—visually—the underlying structure of your writing. The value is immense. I think of layout as fun to do, and easy, too, with today's computers.

Plain English is not limited to expressing only simple ideas: it works for all kinds of writing—from an internal memo to a complicated technical report. It can handle any level of complexity.

Why is plain English better than the "other way"?

Plain English has two important advantages over the other way of writing:

It's far easier for your reader to read.
It's far easier for you to write.

You don't need many more advantages than those, do you? But let's look further.
In the past, plain English seemed merely a preference: you like the old way; I like plain English. Who's to decide? Well, psycholinguists have simplified the decision. Their work shows clearly that plain English is easier for all of us to read, no matter how smart we are. And no matter how much experience we have as readers.

For example, psycholinguists have learned that we all take longer to read less familiar words (like commence) than familiar ones (like begin). The difference is only a few hundred milliseconds in time—but a lot less strain on the short-term memory (and the older I get, the less strain I want to put on mine). The implication? As writers, we can help our readers by preferring ordinary words.

Today's Questia Quiz

Bram Stoker's Dracula sets Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania, in the midst of the Carpathian Mountains and among the wildest and least known portions of Europe. What other state borders Transylvania?

A. Bukovina
B. Moldavia
C. All of the above
D. None of the above

C. All of the above

Too scared to read about Dracula all alone in the dark? Let the glow of your computer screen keep you safe and the Questia online library keep you company when you read the original Bram Stoker's Dracula.