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How to be a safe and smart searcher

Can you always find what you want to find on the internet? These eight easy-to-remember tips will help you to become a safe and smart searcher!

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the poster and do the other exercises.

Preparation

Reading

How to be a safe and smart searcher

Several keywords will help to find better results. Use more than one keyword when you are doing a search. If you want to find out about seagulls, for example, search for 'bird seagull' and not just 'seagull' – because seagull might also be the name of just about anything else, from a hotel to a documentary film.

Exact references can help you find what you're looking for. If you are looking for an exact phrase or sentence, e.g. "seagulls are very clever", type it between inverted commas ("") and only exact matches will be shown. This is useful when you want to find something you've already seen but lost.

Avoid common words like 'a' or 'the' in a search. These aren't always helpful and are usually unnecessary.

Remove unwanted results by adding a minus symbol (-). For example, 'seagull -hotel -film' would leave out all references to hotels and films.

Check your spelling. Make sure that you spell every word in the search box correctly. The smallest typing mistakes can bring unwanted results – especially when the mistyped word exists.

Have a filter. It's a good idea to filter your online searches, especially when you are searching for pictures. Ask an adult to help you add a filtering system. There are lots of filtering software options available.

Experiment with different search engines until you find the one that's best for you. Some search engines personalise the results, so check out the option of using a search engine that doesn't do this and you will get different results.

Reliability is very important when you are searching on the internet. Always ask yourself, 'Is this reliable?' Don't make the mistake of believing everything you see. Some websites are unreliable and some information is false. Check your information on other websites before accepting it.

Worksheets and downloads

How to be a safe and smart searcher - exercises642.09 KB
How to be a safe and smart searcher - answers264.84 KB
How to be a safe and smart searcher - article524.41 KB
Discussion

What type of information do you search for on the internet?

Language level
B1 Intermediate
Topics
digital literacy
online safety
internet
Average: 4.2 (18 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by Christopher Zan on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 07:41

I search things I can't understand in school.

Submitted by pomelo on Mon, 03/13/2023 - 15:05

Well, i search for answers for hard homework questions, entertaining videos

Submitted by douzzydigbck on Mon, 01/30/2023 - 08:00

Thanks for this opurtoni me have thank you for teach mine english

Submitted by FranklyWrittenWrong on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 02:44

News, answers for hard homework questions, entertaining videos.

Submitted by dhadzikadunic on Fri, 11/19/2021 - 19:19

Sometimes I am looking for the meaning of different words.

Submitted by Liuda on Wed, 06/09/2021 - 17:18

I search interesting things in the Internet. For example, sometimes I search different facts about famous people or questions like "how many people smokking in the world". I like to read phsyhology articls and I like to read some books online. The Internet is the best thing what the people made. It is very useful and convinience. We have many means of getting information, but the Internet is the best of it.

Submitted by ItalianGoldenWind on Wed, 06/02/2021 - 03:01

I usually use the Internet to search for informations about my hobbies and favourites. And during online learning, I also using it to search about what I learnt or the answers to my homework.
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Submitted by ScelCrafter on Tue, 03/09/2021 - 15:21

I often seach for school. other things I don´t do in the internet.
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Submitted by Kostantinus on Wed, 01/20/2021 - 11:21

I usually search the information for my studing or hobbies. Nowadays in our sosciety with enormous amount of information searching engines are really useful. You can use them to search for any kind of data. Like said in this lesson you should use right keywords to find online what you really need. Come on! Keep going! I wish you good luck :)

Submitted by nguyenthimyngoc on Thu, 12/17/2020 - 14:58

as you know, today, the internet is growing and expanding because of the great benefits it brings. It makes people's life more convenient, for example, booking flights, bying online,updating trend and news at home and abroad. An excellent tool helps me to search for different information such as learning, entertaining or reading news.However, we have to filter the content to see on the Internet. It always contains false information that causes severe affections to our beliefs and awareness.

Submitted by vyhoai61nna2 on Fri, 11/20/2020 - 09:20

I usually use the Internet everyday for learning, entertaining or reading news. I have to say that it's quite useful for me, it helps me find the information I need more quickly and accurately. To be honest, the Internet makes people's life more comfortable, when you looking for something, just type what you want to find out. In addition, Internet is essential for learning. When using it, my knowledge is expanded more, and I can also learn about culture, other countries, people that I love. But sometimes, we also have to be careful in selecting and receiving information by fake news.

Submitted by Jenny201 on Tue, 09/29/2020 - 10:05

I usually search for different information such as news, learning, novels, ... something just like that. Based on the Internet, it's quite convenient and takes advantage of many things. An excellent tool helps me to discover other languages and fantastic cultures as we can't afford to travel to different countries. Every day, the Internet is always full of the latest news that TV hasn't reported to the people yet. As a result, we can catch up with world trends and extraordinary things. However, we have to filter the content to see on the Internet. It always contains false information that causes severe affections to our beliefs and awareness.
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Submitted by zagrybast on Fri, 08/14/2020 - 10:33

Usually I search different information. It can be from a science article to a daily question.

Submitted by Moony on Sat, 08/08/2020 - 18:00

The information that I usually search on the web is for my school homework.

Submitted by Mamou1 on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 09:50

I search many information on internet because it simple to navigate and find what you're looking for. however reading this article give me more information to how being a good searcher to find the good information and to avoid doing mistakes that can give me bad information so I thanks British council for that.
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Submitted by Giovannichoi on Sat, 06/20/2020 - 03:19

I don't use my computer and phone to surf the internet, but I sometimes search for some news and movies. And in this circumstance, when the COVID 19 is spreading across the whole world, I always check the confirmed cases of coronavirus and their moving route. Then, I check the internet articles and some movie blogs which gives me some informations about the famous and newly-released movies, such as 'Onword', 'The Greatest Showman', or '결백'. I can watch the main trailers of the movies, or check the actors or actresses in the movies. And I also can read the other people's reviews with their scores, to decide to book the tickets for that movie. But, I think internet is not good for the children, because if we don't add the filter on, we can see everything in this. Some violentical and not available photos or video clips can be watched by them, and it means that these could make young people a psycho. So I'm trying not to search so many in the internet, and I strongly think surfing the internet when we're young is not good for us.

Submitted by fast_and_curious on Sat, 06/13/2020 - 05:39

I try to get as much as I can from the internet and I try to be aware of the false information as well.

Submitted by bloomybloom on Sun, 05/31/2020 - 15:18

I use the internet a lot, especially in this lockdown,because I take online courses. But in the other days I use the internet to take more informations than I took on the class, In general I usually search about Maths and Physics because I'm a scientific student :)

Submitted by Makam on Tue, 02/11/2020 - 21:25

I search all I need of it.

Submitted by Elife on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 00:44

Nowadays, I search almost all kinds of information on the internet. Currently, I use the Internet to read books and watch news that make my knowledge expand more.

Submitted by _nguyenthanhtom on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 09:17

For me, to become a safe and smart reseacher we must know how to use the nearest keywords, select the appropriated results, eliminate irrelevant results or unhealthy information

Submitted by Kimkhanh305 on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 08:19

In this modern society, we gain a lot from the Internet. However, too much information will make us confused and cannot choose which one is suitable for us. Therefore, it is great if we know how to filter the correct information. This article is indeed useful for us!

Submitted by yennhi2k0 on Sun, 11/24/2019 - 15:51

I usually use the Internet everyday. For surf Facebook, Instagram, for search information, for read newspaper, for listen to music. Almost, my activities attached by Internet. It is quite useful and fast. Moreover, it shows me to know someone helpful tips to be a smart searcher in modern life. But sometimes we also have to be careful in selecting and receiving information by fake news more and more appear

Submitted by Ngocthao60nna10 on Tue, 11/19/2019 - 02:57

I usually use the Internet every day. It is quite useful, I often use the Internet to read newspapers because I enjoy reading newspapers and watching news. In addition to the Internet is essential for learning, when using the Internet my knowledge is expanded more. Although the Internet is very useful, we need to filter the content that is necessary and suitable for ourselves because the Internet still has some negative.

Submitted by haahaa0912 on Mon, 11/11/2019 - 16:54

I can not agree with the author of this article more. It shows me to know some helpful tips to be a smart searcher in the modern life. Among of a large deal of huge information the modernized technology society brings, we are suggested to be cautious to find accurate hotnews, press, bulletin and many others.

Submitted by AyuNguyen on Tue, 11/05/2019 - 14:07

First of all, I have to say that this article is very helpful for me, it helps me find the information that I need more quickly and accurately. For me, I search almost all kinds of information on the internet. To be honest, the internet makes people's lives more comfortable, when looking for something, just type what you want to find out. Learn about culture, other countries also easier, news updated every day. For example, storm No. 5 last week, before the news on TV reported to the people, the internet was full of news about it first. This helps people have more time to prepare to prevent storms, minimize loss of life and property. But sometimes we also have to be very careful in selecting and receiving information. By fake news more and more appear.

Submitted by kieunguyen_1076 on Thu, 10/24/2019 - 10:31

We are using the internet everyday, everytime and everywhere. The information on it is too much that makes us confused. Therefore, we need to have a filter and check again the information we looked up.

Submitted by Scorpio on Thu, 10/24/2019 - 05:56

When internet have been appeared in the world, and also that time the human were expanded everything... So convenient when we are owning a huge treasure and they are very worth if we know to discover and use them a right way. The internet helped me many things in my life, my work, my study and even my pass. I regularly update new things in the world about cultures, social realities of countries, watch some programs about foods, music and anything i wanna understand much more... Especially, i used internet to update some sofwares related to English and musical intrusments to me can follow and learn easier. Through this way i can improve my English skills or ability to play musical instruments in anywhere, as long as i have a telephone beside myself.

Submitted by lyly on Wed, 10/23/2019 - 16:50

I often search for my lectures and exercises. I also use the Internet for entertainment like watching cartoons or surfing Facebook in free time. I usually check the weather forecast on the Internet before going somewhere. Undeniably, Internet has become an integral part of my life.

Submitted by havy230819 on Wed, 10/23/2019 - 09:18

I can't imagine how it could be without the Internet. For me, the Internet is extremely vital, especially when I need the information to do my homework. The Internet provides me the knowledge of many topics that I'm curious about. I usually search for things that I interested in likes: planets, countries' cultural, old tales, music, beauty tips, books' titles,.. but sometimes I simply search "how to cook something delicious but easily". ^^

Submitted by nguyenthao0808 on Wed, 10/16/2019 - 11:57

Nowadays, searching information on the Internet comes more and more essencial. A new problem has been raised: how to be a safe and smart searcher? As a student, I search information everyday to study well. If I'm not a good searcher, I will have wrong or unwanted results. For me, searching on the Internet is very important and this post very useful.

Submitted by hamynguyen on Mon, 10/07/2019 - 02:48

Hi! I am just a student so the Internet is so nessesary for me.It is fast and convenient when you look in for information that you need. To me, I often do a search for relax and studying.I find languages lesson on the youtube and also movie.Besides, I find information I need on google , contact with my friends and family and so on.However, don't abuse it too much, just use it as an useful tool.
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Submitted by Tuan_Quoc on Sun, 09/29/2019 - 15:41

I often search the internet for information on learning and reference resources online so that I can expand more important knowledge as well as improve the other necessary skills in life as communication skills, presentation skills.

Submitted by Quocvu on Sun, 09/29/2019 - 09:27

I search for my homework, entertainment and watching films. Sometime i search for studying English. I think it very useful
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Submitted by gean123 on Tue, 09/03/2019 - 13:08

I always look for information about my homework of math, history, literature, english, etc. Sometimes I search imformacion about games and technological advances

Submitted by SAHC2019 on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 12:52

i search about learning, mathematics and tecnology, also sometimes i search some ebooks of english to improve my level. And finally, i search information about a game that i play.

Submitted by Rohan26 on Fri, 07/12/2019 - 01:02

i search for topics from my syllabus because i find it in simple language and in points,it is easier to remember than long paragraphs and sometimes in typical language in books and also number of sites have different contains in them so where i find simple and reliable i choose that to remember.

Submitted by Toan0312 on Thu, 04/25/2019 - 01:07

Thank to this, i had learned something new.
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Submitted by Youjiro on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 13:53

When I take a train I search train schedule using web browser.It is fastest way checking time table.Searching internet is very common when I go to out side.I guess everyone search word whenever who want to do anything.Whenever I decide to do anything firstly I search on the internet how to do that or what it "search word".It is helpful for me.

Submitted by parsasoroori on Tue, 01/15/2019 - 12:29

There are some more useful suggestions that I've already experienced and can help you to have a better result. I firmly believe that Mr. Google is the best teacher I've ever had. Sometimes you are looking for a very special result; the search engine helps you and suggests you the search sentences that some people used them and find the answer; Follow this suggestions. If you are looking for picture, video, doc, pdf; always use .pdf or .rar as a keyword. Always know what you are looking for.

Submitted by Ryszard on Mon, 09/03/2018 - 12:48

The following true or false question, where could we find the answer in the article ? 3. Words like ‘an’ are unhelpful in a search. ans : false 4. If your keyword could refer to a lot of different things, you can't avoid getting a long list of results. ans : yes 6. Filter software is especially important for image searches. ans : false thanks
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Submitted by Batgirl on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 17:44

I search different types of information on the internet. During school time I often look for some information that could be useful for me at school. When I have holidays I don't search something often.
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Submitted by Ken on Tue, 02/27/2018 - 07:02

Every piece of inofrmation! ʕ•̫͡•ʕ*̫͡*ʕ•͓͡•ʔ-̫͡-ʕ•̫͡•ʔ*̫͡*ʔ-̫͡-ʔ Last but not least, learning English Internet like this site! ╭( ･ㅂ･)و ̑̑ !
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Submitted by Ahjeen on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 16:48

Well, I search for slime quite often. I think
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