{"id":3812,"date":"2025-01-22T10:41:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T10:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/?p=3812"},"modified":"2026-01-13T11:25:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T11:25:59","slug":"how-to-refine-a-search-in-just-one-phrase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/how-to-refine-a-search-in-just-one-phrase\/","title":{"rendered":"How to refine a search in just one phrase"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Our website has tens of thousands of web pages. Searches must return meaningful results for our audiences to find the right information. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a practice aimed at enhancing a website\u2019s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages. We analyse real search trends for our site and feed our findings into our pages. These iterations represent our desire to boost our opportunities and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we first launched our Drupal website, our search was set to parse &#8220;multiple words&#8221;. This scored pages on the total combined occurrences of each word. Pages were then sorted by highest to lowest score in the search results. As our website grows, so too have the results by parsing with &#8220;multiple words&#8221;. More results mean more terms, quotation marks, filters, and yet more combing through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Phrasing the (search) bar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We have reconfigured our settings to use &#8220;phrase search&#8221; to aid our users. This evaluates the search string as one expression, much like adding quotation marks. Single-word searches continue to function as they did with &#8220;multiple words&#8221;. This new parser also includes a range value, determining how far apart words can be from one another. We have set this to a threshold of ten words at most, allowing for some variance in copywriting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are three examples, comparing popular multi-word search queries from 2024 to today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Non-clinical research ethics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/non-clinical_research_ethics.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/non-clinical_research_ethics-1024x506.jpg\" alt=\"University of Dundee search results for &quot;non-clinical research ethics&quot;. On the left is a search using \u201cmultiple words\u201d, showing 30 results. On the right is a search using \u201cphrase search\u201d, showing 17 results. Red-highlighted areas are results which no longer appear using \u201cphrase search\u201d. Yellow-highlighted areas are results that score lower using \u201cphrase search\u201d.\" class=\"wp-image-3813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/non-clinical_research_ethics-1024x506.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/non-clinical_research_ethics-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/non-clinical_research_ethics-768x380.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/non-clinical_research_ethics-1536x759.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/non-clinical_research_ethics.jpg 1548w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the left is a search using \u201cmultiple words\u201d. On the right is a search using \u201cphrase search\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red-highlighted areas are results which no longer appear using \u201cphrase search\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yellow-highlighted areas are results that score lower using \u201cphrase search\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search results for \u201cnon-clinical research ethics\u201d are now half the previous amount.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The top result is now the \u201cNon-clinical research ethics\u201d page, which has moved up twelve places.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The \u201cEthical approval for non-clinical research\u201d forms have moved down six places.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pages containing \u201cnon-clinical\u201d, \u201cresearch\u201d, and \u201cethics\u201d outwith a phrase format are now omitted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Talent and Development<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/talent_and_development.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/talent_and_development-1024x506.jpg\" alt=\"University of Dundee search results for &quot;talent and development&quot;. On the left is a search using \u201cmultiple words\u201d, showing 305 results. On the right is a search using \u201cphrase search\u201d, showing 80 results.\n\nRed-highlighted areas are results which no longer appear using \u201cphrase search\u201d.\" class=\"wp-image-3814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/talent_and_development-1024x506.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/talent_and_development-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/talent_and_development-768x380.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/talent_and_development-1536x759.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/talent_and_development.jpg 1548w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the left is a search using \u201cmultiple words\u201d. On the right is a search using \u201cphrase search\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red-highlighted areas are results which no longer appear using \u201cphrase search\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search results for \u201ctalent and development\u201d are now a quarter of the previous amount.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The top results now include staff who work within the Talent and Development department.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pages containing \u201ctalent\u201d, \u201cand\u201d, and \u201cdevelopment\u201d outwith a phrase format are now omitted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Semester dates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/semester_dates.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/semester_dates-1024x506.png\" alt=\"University of Dundee search results for &quot;semester dates&quot;. On the left is a search using \u201cmultiple words\u201d, showing 146 results. On the right is a search using \u201cphrase search\u201d, showing 21 results.\n\nRed-highlighted areas are results which no longer appear using \u201cphrase search\u201d.\" class=\"wp-image-3815\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/semester_dates-1024x506.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/semester_dates-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/semester_dates-768x380.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/semester_dates-1536x759.png 1536w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/254\/2025\/01\/semester_dates.png 1548w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the left is a search using \u201cmultiple words\u201d. On the right is a search using \u201cphrase search\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red-highlighted areas are results which no longer appear using \u201cphrase search\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search results for \u201csemester dates\u201d are now a sixth of the previous amount.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first result is a search-card designed to capture similarly searches, such as \u201cterm dates\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The second result is the referenced page as above with a natural high score for this search.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pages containing \u201csemester\u201d and \u201cdates\u201d outwith a phrase format are now omitted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Searching ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With &#8220;phrase search&#8221;, we can now further narrow down false positives in our search. We look forward to analysing how this change might influence search trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Iterations for our SEO continue with further improvements already in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, we hope this change to search will help you find what you&#8217;re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our website has tens of thousands of web pages. Searches must return meaningful results for our audiences to find the right information. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a practice aimed at enhancing a website\u2019s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages. We analyse real search trends for our site and feed our findings into [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":837,"featured_media":3820,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-3812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-development","tag-development"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/837"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3812"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3881,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3812\/revisions\/3881"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}