A search expert at Google reveals 3 common mistakes that can prevent you from getting the best search results

Another common practice Russell sees among Google users is inputting a very specific query in order to turn up a sought-after result that may not accurately answer your question.

For example, imagine you're performing a search to find out what the average length of an octopus is. You might have heard that the answer is 21 inches, but perhaps you're not sure so you've decided to do a quick Google search to check.

Rather than typing in a query like "average length of an octopus 21 inches," you should just search for "average length of an octopus." Doing the former may prompt Google to pull up search results that list 21 inches as the answer even if it's not correct.

"You wouldn't want to prejudice a jury," Russell said. "So likewise, you shouldn't put terms into your query that prompt Google to give you a specific type of answer."

If you see a search result that looks promising but includes terms you're not familiar with, don't skip it, says Russell. By doing so, you may be missing out on valuable information that could include the answers you're looking for. Instead, try performing another Google search for the words that you don't recognize.

Russell pointed to an example, remembering one instance in which someone he was shadowing as part of his field research inputted a search query that read something like:
"Why do I get white patches on my cheeks in the summer?"

That person skipped over a top result because it had the word "hypopigmentation" in it, a term that refers to patches of skin that are lighter than your normal skin tone, according to Healthline.

But this person didn't know what that meant, so he disregarded it even though it included the information he was looking for.

"When you're reading or writing, you shouldn't let these things slip by," Russell said.