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I am trying to send Google a search query with several units, some containing more than one word, separated by the boolean operator OR. Usually I'd write: (Oneword, Two words, Something containing four words, anotheroneword, word). However, Google doesn't seem to understand that.

OR or | do work, however the operation is obviously only performed on the words to each side of the operator, making it useless for multiple word queries.

I also tried "First Query" OR "Second Query" yet that seems to bring the exact same results as simply searching for First Query.

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    Google does not support this.
    – Daniel Beck
    Commented Oct 4, 2011 at 11:59
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    Your last statement with "First Query" OR "Second Query" seemingly returning the same results as "First Query", this could be just that "First Query" is a better match, with "Second Query" coming lower down the results. If I search for "cat definition" OR "dog definition", (something possibly equally likely), results from both phrases are returned on the first page of results.
    – jontyc
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 23:33
  • @GivenSurname, "First Query" OR "Second Query" is the correct query. Do you see any difference in the "about x number of results"?
    – Pacerier
    Commented Jan 16, 2016 at 1:41

1 Answer 1

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Extracted from Google's search tips, you can enclose your individual search queries with double quotes and separate them with a OR or | operator.

"Apple Pie" OR "Stack Exchange" OR Programming
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    The square brackets are not required in the search terms; the Google help will just use square brackets [ ] to denote queries. Also, according to Google, OR must be all caps. Otherwise, this is the right answer.
    – Dan Cruz
    Commented Oct 4, 2011 at 12:24
  • Oops, you're right. Misread on my part.
    – Jin
    Commented Oct 4, 2011 at 12:28
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    Quoting terms makes them phrases. The OP wants: (A AND B) OR (C AND D), not "A B" OR "C D"
    – jontyc
    Commented Jan 16, 2013 at 23:24
  • @Jin, Dude, the square brackets are just wrong. They don't mean what you think they mean. I'll edit them out.
    – Pacerier
    Commented Jan 16, 2016 at 1:39

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