What is the correct search engine strategy to find an exact phrase?

Using quotation marks to enclose the entire phrase is the standard and most effective strategy for searching an exact phrase in search engines. This method tells the search engine to look for the exact sequence of words as they are typed, ensuring that the results contain the specific phrase rather than variations or individual words scattered throughout the content.

When you input a phrase within quotation marks, the search engine processes it as a single query and prioritizes results that include the phrase exactly as it appears. This is particularly useful for locating specific information or matching textual findings closely, as it filters out results that do not strictly adhere to the phrasing provided.

Other strategies mentioned have different impacts on search queries. For example, using parentheses is often utilized for grouping terms or combining different search parameters but does not specifically yield exact phrase matches. Lowercase letters have no effect on the search results regarding the order of words. Similarly, placing a plus sign before each word may encourage the search engine to include those words, but it does not ensure the exactness of the phrasing and can lead to a broader range of results that may not be relevant.