Clarify need before you search

Search intent means pinning down exactly what you need before you touch a keyboard. Instead of typing 'EU climate law' and hoping, ask: Am I looking for a regulation, a court ruling, or a policy proposal? Do I need the latest version or the original from 2010? Is this about EU-wide rules or just one member state? A precise question like 'What is the current EU regulation on CO₂ emissions for new cars, as amended in 2023?' will beat a fuzzy one every time because it tells the search tool exactly what to fetch.

A useful trick is to mentally run through four filters before you type: scope (broad or narrow?), date range (last year or last decade?), source type (official document, news article, academic paper?), and jurisdiction (EU, national, international?). If you catch yourself typing a long, rambling sentence, stop and rephrase it as a single question. Another elimination trick: if a multiple-choice option says 'start by typing keywords into Google', it is almost always wrong — the first step is always to clarify the need.

To lock this in, remember the 'four-filter pause': before you hit Enter, silently check scope, date, source, and jurisdiction. If you can state your need in one clear sentence, you are ready to search. If not, you are just guessing.