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Chapter 3 — Gmail Power Tips
Operator
Definition
Example(s)
filename:
Search for an attachment
Example: filename:physicshomework.txt
by name or type.
Meaning: Messages with an attachment
named physicshomework.txt.
Example: label:work filename:pdf
Meaning: Messages labeled work that also
have a PDF file as an attachment.
“ “(quotes)
Used to search for an exact
Example: “i’m feeling lucky”
phrase.
Meaning: Messages containing the phrase
Capitalization isn’t taken into
“i’m feeling lucky” or “I’m feeling lucky”.
consideration.
Example: subject:”dinner and a movie”
Meaning: Messages containing the phrase
“dinner and a movie” in the subject.
( )
Used to group words.
Example: from:amy(dinner OR movie)
Used to specify terms that
Meaning: Messages from Amy that contain
shouldn’t be excluded.
either the word “dinner” or the word
“movie”.
Example: subject:(dinner movie)
Meaning: Messages in which the subject
contains both the word “dinner” and the
word “movie”.
in:anywhere
Search for messages
Example: in:anywhere subject:movie
anywhere in your account.
Meaning: Messages in All Mail, Spam, and
Messages in Spam and Trash
Trash that contain the word “movie”.
are excluded from searches
by default.
in:inbox
Search for messages in Inbox, Example: in:trash from:amy
in:trash
Trash, or Spam.
Meaning: Messages from Amy that are in
in:spam
the trash.
is:starred
Search for messages that are
Example: is:read is:starred from:David
is:unread
starred, unread, or read.
Meaning: Messages from David that have
is:read
been read and are marked with a star.
cc:
Used to specify recipients
Example: cc:david
bcc:
in the cc: or bcc: fields.
Meaning: Messages that were cc-ed to
Search on bcc: cannot retrieve David.
messages on which you were
blind carbon copied.
after:
Search for messages after or
Example: after:2004/04/17
before:
before a certain date.
before:2004/04/18
Date must be in yyyy/mm/dd Meaning: Messages sent on April 17, 2004.
format.
More precisely: Messages sent on or after
April 17, 2004, but before April 18, 2004.