How 4Search finds and orders results

4Search answers a search from several places, each with its own rules. Knowing which list you are reading explains most of what you see: why a story is ranked first, why an old article appears, and why two lists disagree.

#Where each list comes from

The index is large but not complete. A story from an outlet that 4Search does not read will not appear in the News column, though the Web column may still find it.

#Matching by meaning

For News, Images and Videos, 4Search compares what you meant with what each article is about. A search for how do I cut my heating bill finds articles about saving money on heat and lowering energy bills, whatever words their headlines use.

This is why full questions work as well as keywords. It also means that an unusual word does not guarantee that an article containing it will appear. If you need the exact word or phrase, switch the match menu to a Text option: see Meaning, text or both.

#How far back it looks

A search starts from the Auto setting of the date menu. Auto begins with the last 30 days and then adjusts to the subject: a weather search looks back a few days, a search about markets or sport about two weeks, a search about health or cooking about six months. When an older article is clearly the better match, for example a story about an event from last summer, it can appear even though it falls outside the window.

The menu shows what Auto chose, for example Auto (3 days). You can set a range yourself at any time. See Choose a time window.

#How results are ordered

The News column is ranked by how well each article matches your search. Age plays a smaller part, with limits:

• Between two articles that match about equally well, the newer one comes first.
• A story that many outlets have covered in the last few days can move up a little.
• A newer article never outranks one that matches clearly better, however new it is.
• Pages that only list a tag or topic rank slightly below articles that match as well.

There is no sort menu. Use the date menu to restrict the age, and the other News filters to restrict length or tone.

The Web column is ordered by Google. 4Search changes how the results look, not their order.

#What each page contains

• Where several articles share exactly the same headline, one of them is listed.
• A search lists roughly the first hundred matches, about ten pages. After that, Next is greyed out. If what you want is not there, narrow the search: see Order and pages of results.
• On the News and Websites tabs, a search longer than 160 characters shows no Web column. See The Web column.

#Things worth knowing

• Results change as new articles arrive. The same words can return different stories tomorrow.
• A meaning search always returns the closest matches it can find. A page of results does not prove that coverage of your exact topic exists.
• Tone bars, topic paths and word counts are automatic. They are good guides, not verdicts. See Read a result card.

#Common questions

Why is an older article above a newer one?

It matched your words better. Age only decides between articles that match about equally well.

Why did 4Search show me something from months ago?

On Auto, a clearly better match from further back can appear, and slow-moving subjects such as health use a longer window. Choose a shorter range in the date menu to see only recent articles.

Can I make 4Search sort by date?

There is no sort menu. Choose a short range such as 24 hours to see only the newest articles, or type a time phrase such as today. See Choose a time window.

Why are there only ten pages?

A search lists about a hundred matches. Narrow the search with filters or more specific words to bring different articles forward.