Stop Google Search From Hiding Results

Question

The web-based Google Search user interface works as follows:

1. On http://www.google.com/ , I enter a search term, e.g. latex superscript letters.
2. I hit Return.
3. Google Search displays the results list.
4. I notice most of the results are not what I am looking for, I should put superscript letters into quotation marks.
5. I change the text in the search box to latex "superscript letters".
6. Meanwhile, I notice that one of the results actually sounds interesting, and I still want to open that link before submitting the new search term.
7. Before I can do so, Google Search hides the previous results and replaces them with the annoying message Press Enter to search.

Therefore, I wonder:

• Why does Google Search do anything with my search results before I have even decided whether I want to perform the search based on the new search term?
• Why does Google replace the list of old results (which are still useful!) with something entirely unhelpful, namely a prompt to press Enter to search for the new term?

My concrete question is: How can I prevent that from happening?

Answer 1

This is due to Google Instant Search. I have it turned off myself. To do so click the gear in the top right corner > Search settings > never show instant results.