How Google May Expand Searches Using Synonyms for Words in Queries, SEO by the Sea (Dec 22)
Google sometimes searches on words related to the ones you use. This patent discovery confirms that.
"A patent granted to Google this week explores how the search engine might expand the search terms that searchers use to include synonyms in searches, to make it easier for searchers to locate information on the Web. In the Ft. Wayne example, this could mean that Google would look for pages on the Web that were relevant for both [web hosting Fort Wayne] and [web hosting Ft. Wayne]."
This posting describes the process for finding the synonyms (or related words) and evaluating the quality of the words in context.
"What does this mean for you as a searcher or as a site owner if Google is using this process?Posted by Gwen at December 27, 2009 01:57 AMFor searchers, it might mean that Google may add pages to your search results based upon words it perceives as synonyms to words you used in your query. Search for something while including the words “District of Columbia” in your search, and you may see also see pages that use “Washington, D.C.” or “D.C.” instead of “District of Columbia.” "