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Search like a pro

Guides by goal 4 min read Intermediate Updated

On this page
  1. Write names with capitals
  2. Choose how your words are matched
  3. Steer the Web column with operators
  4. Set the date window
  5. Add filters
  6. Narrow to one topic or one site
  7. Keep or send the search
  8. Common questions

This guide collects the controls that turn a broad search into a precise one: how your words are matched, the operators that steer the Web column, the date window, the filters, narrowing to one topic or one site, and keeping the search to run again.

#Write names with capitals

Type names as they are written, Taylor Swift rather than taylor swift. 4Search treats a capitalized run of words as a name and favors articles about that person. See How 4Search finds and orders results.

#Choose how your words are matched

The match menu in the filter row starts on Title & Body (Meaning), which finds articles about the same idea in other words. Switch it when you need precision:

You need Choose
An exact phrase, a code or a rare word Title/Body (Text) or Title (Text), with the phrase in quotes: "heat pump"
A word left out A (Text) option and a minus sign: heat pump -geothermal
A person, company or ticker the headline may not mention People (Text), Organizations (Text) or Stock Symbols (Text) on the News tab

Quotes, + and - work in the News column only with a (Text) option. See Meaning, text or both.

#Steer the Web column with operators

Type an operator after your words, with no space after the colon. The Web column passes it to Google; the News column ignores the command and searches your other words.

  1. Type, for example, heat pump site:energy.gov, or inflation report filetype:pdf.
  2. Press Enter on the All tab.
  3. Read the narrowed Web results, and the reporting from every outlet in the News column beside them.

-site: leaves a site out, and after:2026-01-01 keeps newer pages. A search with an operator never opens another tab for you. See Google-style operators and Operators at a glance.

#Set the date window

The date menu starts on Auto, which picks a window from your subject and shows it, for example Auto (3 days) for weather. To take control:

  • Type a phrase such as today, this week, last month or last 3 days. It works while the menu is on Auto.
  • Pick a range from 1 hour to 2 years or All.
  • Choose Published or Discovered: the article's own date, or the day 4Search found it.
A search for heat pump news this week: the date menu reads Auto (7 days) because of the words this week

The words this week choose the window: the date menu reads Auto (7 days).

  1. 1A time phrase typed in the search
  2. 2Auto shows the window it used

Years and month names are not read as dates. See Choose a time window.

#Add filters

  • Length: a minimum from 50+ words to 1,000+ words, or Custom range… for your own limits.

    The minimum words menu set to Custom range, with a minimum and a maximum word count box beside it

    Custom range: a fewest and a most; either can be empty.

    1. 1Choose Custom range
    2. 2Fewest words
    3. 3Most words

  • Sentiment: tick the numbers you want, from 1 (most negative) to 10 (most positive).

  • On the All tab, Apply to web lets your date range narrow the Web column too, and Open in News › carries everything to the News tab.

Results update as soon as you change a filter. If nothing is left, loosen length or sentiment first. See Narrow results with filters.

#Narrow to one topic or one site

  • A topic: on the first page of News results, pick one in the Search within a topic box, or use the arrow beside Full coverage on a card. See Search within a topic.
  • A site in the News column: select the three dots on one of its cards and choose Search this website. site: narrows only the Web column. See Find a website.

The address in your browser records the tab, your words and your choices. Set everything first, wait for the results to reload, then copy the address or bookmark it.

When the date menu is on Auto, the address holds no date, so the person who opens it gets Auto for their own day; pick a fixed range to keep it steady. See Share or bookmark a search and Address parts.

#Common questions

Why do my quotes not give exact matches?

Quotes work in the News column with a (Text) option in the match menu. The Web column reads them on any tab.

Can I sort the News results by date?

There is no sort menu. Choose a short range such as 24 hours, or type today.

Why does the News column ignore site:?

site: is a command for Google's web results. Use Search this website on a result card for one outlet in the News column.

Read next

Searching Meaning, text or both: the match menu Choose how 4Search compares your words with articles: by meaning, by exact text, or both, and when quotes and minus signs work. Searching Google-style operators Type site:, intitle:, filetype:, after: and the rest to steer the Web results, and see what the 4Search index does with them. Searching Choose a time window Set how far back a search looks. Let Auto decide, pick a fixed range, or type a time phrase such as today or last week. Searching Narrow results with filters Use the date, match, length and sentiment menus to cut a search down to the articles you want, and learn how the All tab applies them. Searching Share or bookmark a search The address of a results page records your search and your choices. Copy it to keep or send the search, or share a single article from its card. Reference Operators at a glance Every search operator and sign 4Search understands, what it does in the Web column and in the News column, on one page.