No matter which search engine you use, the quality of your search results depend on how you formulate your search query. A bad search query delivers inadequate search results. And studies show that even the fabled “Google Generation” don’t know how to phrase their searches.

An easy way to learn about the structure of solid, more complex search queries is provided by Google Wonder wheel. Here is how:

Type your query into the Google search box and click the search button. On the search results page, click on the “Wonder wheel” link in the left column menu (you might have to click “More” first. Google displays your query in the middle of a wheel with alternative or related queries as spokes. Click on a related query and a new, smaller wheel pops up to show you more queries in the same vein.

This way you get acquainted with the look and feel of complex search queries and will know how to build one the next time you do a search. Or, if you are still in doubt, you can choose to let the Wonder wheel guide you.

photo credit: Ivan Walsh