In the real world, it’s a tangled web we read

The answer to any question — no matter how obscure — is available to you instantly on the Internet.

Well, that’s true as long as you don’t care whether it’s the correct answer.

Just as is true in the real world, the Web is filled with bad information, wrong answers and crazy talk. Hey, you probably already knew that, right?

But there is a way to lessen the chance that your Internet search for an answer will end up with incorrect information. Today we’ll look at search techniques that will give you an edge when you look for answers.

Respect authority

It’s just common sense. Give more weight to brand-name sites. For instance, let’s say you’re looking for the most popular first names in the U.S. for boys. When I tried that search using Google I got answers from various websites. Among those various sources I found answers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Social Security Administration. I’d trust those answers much more than something from an obscure website.

Keep time in mind

When searching for answers pay attention to the date the answer was given. If you, for instance, do a search for the number of passengers cars in the U.S. you’ll find that some of the answers were created years ago. So when you look at the answers returned from your search, pay attention to the date they were created.

Look for agreement

It’s a great indicator of accuracy when a lot of the answers from reputable sites agree. So look for the safety you get in numbers and grant more weight to answers that seem consistent from a bunch of different websites.

Craft your question precisely

Let’s go back to the example I used earlier — the most popular first name for boys. If you ask the question just the way I stated it you’ll get at least two wildly different answers and yet, for all I know, both are true. Here’s why. Some sites will tell you that James is the most popular names but others will assure you that Mohammed (or one of the other various ways to spell it) is the most popular. One answer is giving the results for the U.S., the other for the world. So if you are interested in the most popular name in the U.S. make sure to specify that.

Learn the lingo

When searching most people just type in a few words and hit the button. So if they are searching for information about German shepherds they type in those exact words. However, that search might also return answers about Germans who shepherd sheep. So spend time crafting the question. There are also special search aids that can make a big difference.

For instance, if I want to find all I can about Bill Husted and don’t care about other Bills and other Husteds I can use quote marks like this: “Bill Husted” that tells Google I only want those two names. There are a lot of other aids like that and you can read about them here: https://support. google.com/websearch/ answer/2466433

Using these tips should greatly increase your accuracy.

However, follow a tip from an old reporter: for questions where a wrong answer can impact your finances or life, go directly to the source instead of the Internet. If it’s a medical question ask your doctor. If it’s financial, then an accountant, legal a lawyer.

Some questions are too important for Google.