Correct use of link: command

Different results for slightly different syntax

[freejung]

I know I should have this figured out already, but I only just noticed it. I get very different results depending on exactly how I use the link: command in Google. For instance:

link:www.site.com seems to give far more results than
link: www.site.com

also,

link:site.com gives different results.

What is the correct syntax for using the link: command? Should there be a space between link: and the URL? Should there be a www or not? Which result is correct?

[JBoss008]

link:http://www.google.com/

That is how the Google toolbar will link you.

[hobbnet]

you also get different results for:

links:www.google.com

[freejung]

Thanks JBoss008,

So then what does it give you when you put a space between the link: and the URL? I get different results, more listings for one site, fewer for another. Strange. Glad that is the official one, though, since that is what is showing the most backlinks for my older site! For a minute there I thought my links had dropped from over 400 to about 40! Whew!

[mud]

link: www.site.com

searches for "link" and "site.com", your not using the backlink utility in this case.. your just searching the web for those two terms ("www" is removed because it is very common, but the point is stated above)