1. By Cody

2.  Anything that helps with math-related stuff gets a vote in my book. Not only can you use Google to solve simple math problems, you can also use it to convert measurements. Here are a few examples of this; you can simply type these right into the Google search box:  Half a quart in tablespoons  5 miles to kilometers  sqrt(8912)  And so on. Google can also do much more complex problems and conversions. All you have to do is type your math problem into the search bar. Or, if it's a complex problem with mathematical operators, you can search Google for the world "calculator" and the Google calculator will be the first result you see. From there, you can use the number pad provided to enter your equation.

3.  Some folks struggle to spell certain words without a spell check – and since we don’t always work within a medium that offers an automatic spell check on the web (blogs, message boards, etc.), it’s so nice to have a built-in Google spell checker. Here’s how it works: you just type in the word you’re struggling with into Google’s search box, and Google will very politely come back with this phrase: “Did you mean…(correct spelling)?” This is probably one of the most useful Google inventions ever.

4.  Google automatically excludes common words like “where”, “how”, “and”, etc. because it tends to slow down your search. However, if you’re looking for something that actually needs those words included, you can “force” Google to include them by using our old friend the addition sign, i.e., Spiderman +3, or, you could use quotation marks: “Spiderman 3”.

5.  Ever come across a word on the Web that you don’t know? Instead of reaching for that bulky dictionary, just type define (you can also use definition) word (insert your own word) and Google will come back with a host of definitions. I use this one all the time not only for definitions (mostly tech-related), but I’ve also found it’s a great way to find detailed articles that can explain not only the word you’re looking for but the context in which it most commonly occurs. For instance, the buzz phrase “Web 2.0” using the Google syntax of define web 2.0 returns with some really interesting and practical stuff.

6.  Google has a gigantic phonebook directory, as well they should – their index is one of the largest, if not THE largest, on the Web. Here’s how you can use Google’s phonebook to find a phone number or address (United States only at the time of this writing):  First name (or first initial), last name, city (state is optional);  First name (or first initial), last name, state;  First name (or first initial), last name, area code;  First name (or first initial), last name, zip code;  Phone number, including area code;  Last name, city, state;  Last name, zip code.