Ask.com Search Tips

Nothing pleases us more than having our valued users embark on a fruitful search. The following tips can help you to achieve better, more thorough results.

 

Search With Keywords or Questions

Ask search technology responds to questions, phrases, or single word searches, giving you more options and making it easier for you to search the way you want.

For example, all of the following search examples should successfully lead you to the desired information:

• Where can I find cheap airfare to New York?
• Cheap airfare to New York
• Cheap airfare
  

 

Spelling Counts

While capitalization doesn't matter, correct spelling will always lead you to better quality results. If you do search on a misspelled term, our spell check feature should assist you. When a potential misspelling is encountered, we'll automatically suggest a correct spelling. If this suggestion is selected, we will perform your corrected search again, thus ensuring the best and most accurate search results possible.

• Batle of the Netdork Stars will be corrected to Battle of the Network Stars
• Beetles songs will be corrected to Beatles songs
  
  

 

Use Related Search

Ask.com's natural language technology allows us to understand the context of your search so that we can provide related topics or suggestions for you to use to enhance your search experience. You can find these suggestions in the upper right side of the web results and occasionally within our Smart Answer results.

 

Word Order Matters

Our search technology recognizes the order of words in a search. Search with the same natural word order that you would use in an everyday conversation with a friend or simply type in the keywords that you think will lead to your desired search results.

• Poor word order choice for search: Gifts Christmas dad for ideas
• Good word order choice for search: Christmas gift ideas for dad
  

 

Category Inclusion

Sometimes the same proper noun applies to very different things. Including a category for your search can improve results. If you're searching for information on the West Wing, the television show, search two will work better than search one.

• Mixed results: Information on the West Wing
• Better results: Information on the West Wing, the television show.
  
  
  

The More Specific The Better

Ask can pinpoint information if you make specific search requests. We are always working diligently to advance our technologies and extend our reach into the Web; however, we may not be able to recover every specific topic you may search just yet. So, if your specific request doesn't work the first time, simply try a more general request.

 

Try Searching With Synonyms To Improve Results

If provides only limited results for your search, try substituting your original search with new terms that mean the same thing.

• Mixed results: Cement Ponds
• Better results: Swimming Pools
  

 

One Search Or Question At A Time

As with any search engine, our technology works best when you pose only one search question or phrase at a time. If you're looking for information on, say, spas in California and hotels in New York, you should perform two separate searches in order to receive the best results:

• Search One: Do you have information on spas in Napa Valley, California?
• Search Two: What are the best hotels in New York City?
• Not: I need info on hotels in New York and spas in California.

 

Spaces Between Words

Be sure to place a space between words so can see exactly what you're searching for. If you're not sure about spacing, perform separate searches for each of your options.

• Transit Strike works better than Transitstrike
• Henry Kissinger works better than Henrykissinger

 

Learn More About Our Site Features

We have created many innovative search tools and features in order to assist you in finding your desired information -- faster. Please click here to see a full list of tools and tips.