AROUND(): A Google Search Operator You May Not Know About

Short Bytes: Here is this handy operator developed by Daniel Russell who comes in as a handy trick when you are googling stuff. It’s a handy trick, particularly when you’re looking for the combination of search terms (containing two or more search keywords) when one dominates the results, but you’re interested in the relationship between two query terms.

The AROUND(n) operator (used in uppercase, as shown with n = a number) is an undocumented Google search operator that will help you find documents where the distance between two search terms is around ‘n’. The higher the number ‘n’ the less is the proximity between the search words. Here’s an example:

A research query that says “hot springs” will mostly show search results about geographical hot springs (because these two words are maximized in use together than with separation between them).

However, if we modify the query to look like “hot AROUND(5) springs,” you get results where the two terms are written on the page in close proximity.

Also, note that if Google is unable to find anything within the limit (of ‘n’), it will just do the regular ranking of the terms without the AROUND coming into the application.

This operator is particularly helpful in long articles or long text, for example searching Google books. It is also helpful for when searching for quotes, speeches or a song that’s stuck in your head, but you can only think of a few words from it.

Google’s wildcard search operator, represented by Asterisk (hot * springs), may achieve similar results, but with AROUND, you even get to specify the distance between the two search terms.

Note: Do remember to write AROUND in all CAPS, else it won’t work.

Did you like this bonus tip about Google search? Tell us in comments!

Bonus Video: Funniest Google Facts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU0DPjar-aw