Helpful tip for DuckDuckGo

Use + and quotes

[Andrew3000]

Next time your search engine results don't match your query try adding a + before the word. Otherwise DDG will include results that don't match your query (frustrating).

If it still doesn't work you can still use the + and also wrap your word in quotes (even though it is a single word).

Vise versa with - and removing words (also wrap in quotes if it doesn't work).

I don't know why DDG doesn't advertise this feature as some results are completely wrong without the +.

[engine]

Andrew3000, welcome to WebmasterWorld.

This page might help you DuckDuckGo search syntax [help.duckduckgo.com...]

[tangor]

Boolean search has been around since 1847 (that is not a typo) and can be very useful with search engines of all kinds that support it. More info here:

[lifewire.com...]

Glad to have you join WW, @Andrew3000!

[Andrew3000]

Thanks for the welcomes, glad to be here.

So DDG does advertise search syntax, I couldn't find it as I use their HTML (NoScript) search page (no "help" menu).

My question (I'm asking because I run a search engine) is would you want searches to automatically force results to include all the words you requested (what I think should happen) or do you want an algorithm to ignore lesser words* (may not be the results you want like how DDG is now).

* on DDG if you are missing search engine results with a word in your query you would have to add a + before your word and re-click.

[phranque]

welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], Andrew3000!

[tangor]

@Andrew3000 .... Search has many flavors ... ALL (as in all words are treated equal and all kinds of stuff is found), Filtered, and Exact.

ALL expends large resources on both sides of the experience.
Filtered narrows the resource use
Exact really calms machine time down.

LIKELY INTENT (the strongest of the search query) generally provides the USER search ... less expenditure of time and resources.

If the user doesn't find what they wanted then an EXACT on THEIR side using Boolean limiters is the next step.

ALL, on the other hand, is like rainfall from a hurricane ... it's EVERYWHERE.

That said, the average user has no clue regarding Boolean operations (any search engine worth its salt) and they have no patience with an ALL result (too many to look at and perhaps 50%+ not what they are looking for). Filtered to strongest (the search engine needs to make that keyword determination) is a balance.

Of course EXACT (via Boolean operators) will provide the best USER results ... but only if they know these operators exist ...

Good luck on that ...

Though above might sound negative, there's a boatload of POSITIVE there as well ... in your case as a SE make these operators KNOWN, even if your visitor arrives JS DISABLED or as ACCESSIBILITY REQUIRED.